Handre Pollard: Springboks Star Set to Be Ruled Out of All Blacks Clash in Cape Town This Weekend
- Veteran flyhalf Handré Pollard is reportedly set to miss Saturday's Test against the All Blacks at Cape Town Stadium
- The 32-year-old was expected to start based on his familiarity with Cape Town conditions before the injury emerged
- Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok are among the options to fill Pollard's position in the second Test
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The Springboks face a significant selection setback ahead of the second Test of their four-match series against New Zealand, with flyhalf Handré Pollard reportedly sidelined through injury.
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Netwerk24 reported that Pollard is unavailable for Saturday's clash at Cape Town Stadium due to a calf injury, ruling the 32-year-old out of what promises to be a pivotal encounter in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series.
Replacement options for Pollard
The two-time Rugby World Cup winner had been earmarked to start the Cape Town fixture, with his experience of playing in those conditions a key factor in the selection thinking. With his availability now in doubt, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok emerge as the leading candidates to slot into the number 10 jersey.
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Feinberg-Mngomezulu started last week's defeat to New Zealand at Ellis Park but was subsequently named among the replacements for the Cape Town Test, while Libbok offers another option at flyhalf for Bok coach Rassie Erasmus.
Pollard's disrupted 2026 season
The injury compounds what has already been a frustrating year for Pollard. He began his 2026 Springbok campaign in fine form, earning Man of the Match honours against Scotland on 11 July, only to be struck down by a hamstring problem before the Wales Test the following week.
He returned to action in South America, featuring in the Springboks' win over Los Pumas in Argentina roughly a month before the All Blacks series began. His most recent appearance came in that fixture, making the Cape Town Test his anticipated comeback to the starting line-up before the calf complaint intervened.
South Africa head into the second Test trailing in the series after their defeat at Ellis Park, lifting the stakes considerably for Saturday's encounter on the Cape Flats.
Erasmus breaks silence on Springboks' loss
Briefly News previously reported that Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus spoke candidly after his side suffered a heavy defeat to the All Blacks in the first Test of the Greatest Rivalry series
South Africa led 13-12 at half-time but were outscored five tries to one in the second half as New Zealand dominated the Ellis Park clash.
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Source: Briefly News
