South Africa's Handre Pollard (L) and Damian Willemse (R) celebrate a try during the 2022 Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand held at the Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa South Africa's Handre Pollard (left) has been ruled out of the Rugby Championship while Damian Willemse (right) has been declared fully fit. Picture: Kim Ludbrook/EPA
Pretoria - The good news out of the Springboks camp in Pretoria is that Damian Willemse has recovered from injury and is fit for next week’s season opener against Australia, but the bad news is that Handre Pollard is out of the Rugby Championship.
Willemse’s recovery alleviates the flyhalf crisis that resulted in the call-up of veteran Elton Jantjies. It means the Boks can start with Manie Libbok at flyhalf and Willemse at 15 at Loftus next week.
Director of rugby Rassie Erasmus said in a press conference that with a World Cup on the horizon, there is no need to rush Pollard’s recovery from an injury he picked up playing for Leicester in the England premiership semi-final.
“Injury-wise, our only real concern is Handre Pollard. That is why we have Elton here. We don’t want to put pressure on guys to play before they are 100 percent. There is no need. There is a bigger picture (the World Cup) and we have quality depth.
“Eben (Etzebeth) is coming along nicely (from a shoulder injury) and so is Siya (Kolisi) from his knee. Those guys we are looking at maybe playing in the (warm-up) game against Wales (August 19),” Erasmus added. “(Scrumhalf) Jaden Hendrikse is also looking good.”
The team to play the Wallabies will be announced probably next Wednesday and at the same time, the squad to travel to New Zealand will be unveiled.
“We have to get the balance right between having all the guys here in Pretoria to ensure the team to play at Loftus gets the best possible preparation and then getting the other squad to New Zealand in time so that they get over jet lag,” coach Jacques Nienaber said. “ We will announce the squad as late as possible because we don’t want the opposition to know who they must prepare for.”
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