Handre Pollard is built for the big Springboks occasions

Handre Pollard and Embrose Papier combine at halfback for the Springboks for the first time since 2018. The duo will start against Scotland in Pretoria on Saturday, eight years after starting against Scotland at Murryfield in Edinburgh.

Handre Pollard and Papier are reunited at Test level at their home club ground. Both were outstanding for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship. The Bulls lost the final in Dublin to Leinster.

Papier played for Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus in 2018, which was Erasmus’s first year in charge. He never made the Boks squad again between 2019 and 2025 as Erasmus invested in World Cup winners Faf de Klerk, Cobus Reinach, Grant Williams and – post the 2023 World Cup – Morné van den Berg and Jaden Hendrikse.

Erasmus this week stressed the continued omission of Papier was more to do with the form of those picked than any lack of form from Papier. The Boks coach lauded Papier for his consistency and impact in the Bulls run to the URC Final.

This form, coupled with injury to others in his position, resulted in his selection on Saturday.

“I think none of us can look past the fact with how well Embrose played this year,” said Erasmus. “There’s been some injuries and there’s some guys who lost form and he gathered form, if I can call it that way. I’m very happy for him personally and obviously for us, it’s nice to have him on board. He gets his opportunity at home with Handré, who he’s played a lot of rugby with. So hopefully that also helps him, at a field he is familiar with.”

Pollard scored 18 points in the Boks 26-20 win against Scotland in 2018. He scored 12 points (three conversions and two penalties) in the 32-15 win against Scotland at Murrayfield in 2024.

Former Scotland lock turned podcaster Jim Hamilton raved about the Springboks demolition of England in the Nations Championship and said the value of experienced World Cup winners like Pollard in the match-day squad against Scotland could not be overstated.

Pollard, a back to back World Cup winner, spent a big part of last season in the Boks squad but outside the match 23. Erasmus primarily picked Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok as his No 10 options, with Pollard starting four of the 13 Test matches and playing the final 20 minutes against Georgia.

Saturday will be Pollard’s first Test of the season and his 50th match in the past two seasons for club and country.

Pollard’s 825 points is the second most scored in Test rugby for the Springboks. The 2007 World Cup winner Percy Montgomery holds the record with 893 points.

Montgomery said it would be appropriate, given Pollard’s World Cup-winning performances in Japan and France, that he is the player to break the record. Montgomery retired in 2008 and was the Boks skills and kicking coach between 2009 and 2011.

Handré Pollard – Springboks Career 

Handré Pollard – Points Breakdown

Handré Pollard – Career Averages

Handré Pollard – Springbok Record at a Glance