Handré Pollard Opens Up on Calf Injury That Ruled Him Out of All Blacks Series
- Pollard suffered a calf tear during a training session ahead of the second Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Test against New Zealand in Cape Town
- The veteran Springbok flyhalf admitted the timing of the injury made it particularly difficult to accept, given how much was at stake
- Pollard also spoke candidly about his evolving role in the squad and what still motivates him heading into the next World Cup cycle
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Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard has spoken publicly about the training ground incident that forced him out of the second Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Test against the All Blacks, describing it as a simple but costly accident.
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Pollard had been named to start at flyhalf for South Africa in Cape Town when the injury occurred during a routine training session. He explained that a moment of acceleration on a slippery pitch placed excessive strain on his calf, resulting in a small tear.
"I sort of stepped away to accelerate, and the pitch slipped, which happens from time to time," Pollard said as quoted by SA Rugby Magazine.
"I probably put too much tension on my calf. I had a small calf tear. I knew it wasn't so serious, but I also knew it was probably going to keep me out for the rest of the series."
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Missing out on a high-profile series
Pollard acknowledged that sitting out such a significant series was difficult to process, even for a player of his experience. He said it was a great series to be part of and that, while the squad was still involved, they could not contribute on the field.
He explained that this was where the emotion came from, as they had all worked hard and were excited about the series.
A two-time World Cup winner who made his Test debut in 2014, Pollard reflected on how his understanding of the game has deepened over time, particularly around the demands of international rugby.
"When you're young, you're very free and a bit careless, but you don't really understand the consequences of certain decisions you make on a rugby field," he said.
"As you get older, you realise those things. Test match rugby is always going to be built on set-piece, a kicking game and defence. My approach and my mentality haven't changed at all."
Source: Getty Images
Eye on the World Cup
Beyond his immediate recovery, Pollard spoke about the mentorship role he now plays within the Springbok setup, guiding younger players ahead of fixtures including Sunday's match against Australia.
Pollard said that everyone was still learning, even after many years in the game. He added that the Springboks were fortunate to be learning from their experiences without having to do so while losing.
With the next World Cup on the horizon, Pollard made it clear that he was focused on the year ahead. He described the World Cup as the pinnacle of the game and said the Springboks would need to play good rugby over the next 12 months to allow themselves to compete for the title.
Springboks' depth questions emerge after Perth defeat
Briefly News previously reported that the Springboks’ 42-38 defeat to Australia in Perth also raised questions about squad depth ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Rassie Erasmus made 13 changes to the starting XV, with Australia taking advantage before a late South African comeback brought the match back into contention.
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Source: Briefly News
