The timing in form and fortune from Handre Pollard is perfect for the Bulls and Boks. Pollard is the key to the Bulls beating Glasgow in the last 16 of the Investec Champions Cup.

Handre Pollard perfect for Bulls and Boks

Handre Pollard, a back to back World Cup winner, and the holder of the most points in World Cup final history, 34, will be critical to the Boks chase for an unprecedented third successive World Cup in Australia in 2027.

Pollard scored 22 points in the Boks 32-12 World Cup final win against England in Japan in 2019 and four years later he kicked all 12 points in the Boks 12-11 win against the All Blacks in France.

Right now, on the basis of the 2025 Test season, the Stormers No 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, is the Bok incumbent, and Japanese-based Manie Libbok is also in the Boks squad.

But Pollard, used sparingly in the 2025 season, remains the big match, big moment clutch player.

When the pressure rises and the room gets tight, Pollard owns the space.

He will have to do so in Glasgow, when the high-flying Scots host the Bulls in the Investec Champions Cup last 16

This is not a debate about the value and worth of the brilliant Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Go quote Stormers coach John Dobson, Sacha is ‘a national rugby treasure’, nor is it a dismissal of Libbok.

This is about Pollard, too easily dismissed by those with recency bias and short-term memory.

The Bulls No 10 remains the best in closing a game, as was evident with his two long range penalties against Munster a week ago. The two clutch strikes ensured the Bulls played the frantic final few minutes with a single score lead.

Boks coach Rassie Erasmus never has to be reminded of the qualities of Pollard. It was Erasmus, who last year, kept on introducing Pollard’s name when the South African public was quick to forget there were three world-class No 10s in the Boks squad and not just Libbok and Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

The phrase “big players step up in big moments” is overused, but with Pollard it is accurate.

Play-off rugby is about territory, percentages, game management, accuracy and goalkicking.

Pollard delivers in every facet, as we witnessed in 2019 and 2023 on Rugby’s biggest international nights.

Keo, Zels and Bok legend Bryan Habana talk Investec Champions Cup last 16

The Stormers are second in the URC, have won 11 of 14 matches, and won three from four in the Pool stages of the Investec Champions Cup.

For them to win against Toulon at the Stade Mayol in Toulon, France, in the Investec Champions Cup last 16, it will require the combination of Feinberg-Mngomezulu and specialist No 10 Julie Matthee to produce the near perfect combined match performances.

It will also need the Stormers pack to at least match the hosts.

The Stormers scrum and line out is good enough to dominate any opponent.

Discipline will be non-negotiable but to continue the narrative of the week, both the Bulls and Stormers have the cattle to bring South Africa reward this weekend.