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Handre Pollard's big promise to Montpellier fans ahead of his debut
By Online Editors
Handre Pollard is set to make his Montpellier debut this Saturday against Racing in Paris after recovering from the fractured cheekbone injury suffered in the World Cup final win over England.
The South African talisman signed for the French club for three years and has told media ahead of his first outing that he wants to deliver Top 14 title success during his stay after tasting World Cup glory with the Springboks.
“For an international player, it's always a goal to win a title for his country, especially a World Cup,” he told Rugbyrama.
“When I started with the Springboks, that was my goal. Now it is a thing of the past. It’s a memory that will stay with me for life and also gives me confidence because we have been successful at the highest level. Now the most important thing for me is the future and winning a title with Montpellier.
“The most important thing for me is not my personal case but the team. I repeat: I want to try to win trophies. I'm going to give my best and for that, I have to immerse myself in another culture. It’s up to me to adapt.
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“The most important thing is what the coach and the team want from me. I will try to integrate myself as quickly as possible and bring the maximum. It may take some time, but I hope it goes well this weekend.”
Pollard’s need for treatment following the World Cup meant he missed the Springboks’ five-day trophy parade across South Africa.
He could have debuted last weekend against Toulouse in the Champions Cup, but Montpellier decided to keep him under wraps for a further week.
Currently fourth in the league, the club are still chasing their first-ever title having lost the 2018 final to Castres in Paris.
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To be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
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