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Handre Pollard responds to incredible personal stat that led to World Cup glory
By Josh Raisey
Handre Pollard did not play a huge amount at the World Cup, but when the fly-half was on the pitch, he made it count.
Having not even been in the initial 33-man squad for South Africa, the Leicester Tigers No10 only started two matches in the entire campaign after being called up to replace Malcolm Marx- against Tonga and the final against the All Blacks. But along the way there were some crucial cameos from the bench as well, none more so than his player of the match performance against England in the semi-final.
South Africa are made for knockout rugby, and Pollard seems suited more than most. As the Springboks won their final three matches all by a solitary point, it was the boot of Pollard that proved to be the decisive factor. In fact, the 29-year-old finished the tournament with a stat that summed up what a clutch player he is- he had a 100 percent kicking record at the Stade de France.
It was four from four in Paris in the final as the Boks won 12-11, while Richie Mo'unga and Jordie Barrett left five points out there with wayward kicks. Added to some equally clutch kicks in the quarter-final and semi-final at the Stade de France, that is quite an incredible stat for the fly-half. The person who seems least impressed though is Pollard himself, who was fairly blasé about the feat after the match.
"When you are actually out on the field it is pretty normal, it's just rugby, man," the two-time World Cup winner said.
"Once you are in the cathedral you just get going and trust your process. The trust the guys have in myself and the trust I have in them... if you miss it, it's not the end of the world for us, we don't see it that way.
"There's not a lot going on, it's pretty simple, to be honest.
"For me now, it will be remembered as a nice place to kick. Not all stadiums are like that unfortunately. I will have fond memories of this place for sure."
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Don't think you've watched enough. But let's see how the future pans out. I'm quietly confident we have a row of 10's lined uo who would each start in many really good teams.
Go to commentsHopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
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