Wellington - Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has sprung a major surprise by picking 20-year-old flyhalf Handré Pollard in the starting line-up for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks in Wellington.
Pollard comes in for Morné Steyn, who was at No 10 in last week’s 24-23 loss to Australia in Perth. Steyn falls out of the match-23, with Patrick Lambie the back-up flyhalf on the bench.
Meyer resisted making any other changes to his squad that he named today, which sees Adriaan Strauss continuing at hooker ahead of Bismarck du Plessis, and Jan Serfontein remaining at outside centre, with Damian de Allende still on the bench.
Captain Jean de Villiers has been named at inside centre, and will play in his 100th Test, joining four other South Africans to reach that mark – Percy Montgomery, John Smit, Victor Matfield and Bryan Habana, who reached the target in Perth last week.
The Bok coach Meyer said today that Pollard’s experience of playing for the South African Under-20 side in the Junior World Championship in New Zealand in June played some role in him winning the race for the flyhalf spot.
“He played well in the three Tests that he started. A couple of months ago, he was named the World Junior Player of the Year after some very impressive performances here for the Junior Springboks,” Meyer stated.
The 33-year-old De Villiers made his Test debut in 2002 against France, and was described by Meyer as a great servant for his country.
“Jean is also a true ambassador for South Africa. To see how he is respected all over the world, is truly humbling and our fellow countrymen can be proud of him,” said Meyer.
“Despite all of the success and responsibility, he’s never lost that sparkle in his eye and he treats everyone around him with respect.”
SPRINGBOK TEAM
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira. Bench: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Warren Whiteley, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Damian de Allende.