‘Underappreciated Pollard harshly labelled’

Former England players Ben Youngs and Anthony Watson believe there is a lack of appreciation for what Handré Pollard can still offer the Springboks.

Pollard has started just five of the Boks’ 18 Tests since the beginning of 2025 as Rassie Erasmus has continued to build depth at flyhalf.

The 32-year-old started against Scotland last month, winning the Man of the Match award, but Manie Libbok, Vusi Moyo and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu have also worn the No 10 jersey this season.

Speaking on the For The Love Of Rugby podcast, Youngs and Watson argued that Pollard offers something different to South Africa’s other flyhalf options.

While Watson would favour Feinberg-Mngomezulu to start against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday, he believes Pollard’s contrasting style makes him particularly valuable from the bench.

“You actually have to have Pollard on the bench to come in case it’s not going right 100%,” Watson said.

“Handré brings a completely different level of calm and pragmatism that everyone else around still can switch into because that whole backline is so experienced and so used to playing with Handré that it’s easy to switch mindsets.”

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Watson also rejected the perception that the two-time World Cup winner is simply a conservative, percentage-based flyhalf.

“He gets harshly labelled as like a steady Eddie. I don’t actually think he’s a super steady Eddie.

“He can pull out magic moments, like cross-kick magic moments. He can pull out distribution.”

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Youngs, who played alongside Pollard at Leicester, highlighted a particular skill he believes is often overlooked.

“Pollard’s catch-pass, I’ve never seen a player anywhere near him in terms of this. We’ve seen it. We trained with him and played with him every day.

“We have played with some amazing players, whether it be at England, club level or Lions – I have never seen a player’s ability to catch a ball and get it out of his hands at the speed he does.

“The catch to release and the release – I mean, this could be a 10, 15, 20m pass – no one gets near it. I’ve never seen anyone near that. His catch distribution is phenomenal.”

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Youngs believes longevity has contributed to the flyhalf being taken for granted.

“The longer you are there, the more you are underappreciated, unfortunately.

“People get used to seeing you there. They see the new shiny thing. There is a lack of appreciation for what that player still does, still brings and can still do.”

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images