The Vodacom Bulls expect Handré Pollard to respond in Friday night’s URC final against Leinster in Dublin after a rare off day with the boot two weeks ago.
The double World Cup-winning Springbok flyhalf missed three relatively straightforward penalty goals between the 67th and 73rd minutes against the Glasgow Warriors at Murrayfield that left the semi-final on the edge heading into the closing stages.
However, the Bulls, who had fought back from 21-3 down, were able to hold on for a 22-21 win.
It was uncharacteristic from the man whose ice-cold temperament in the frenzied heat of World Cup playoff matches has come to define him as a match-winner.
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However, Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee believes too much attention has been placed on Pollard’s kicking performance in Edinburgh.
“Handré was the first guy after the game to acknowledge it,” Coetzee said. “I know he would have taken that personally and looked to rectify it.
“But if you take that away and look at everything else he did on the field, he was brilliant.
“He covered a lot of kicks for us, put us in the right areas of the field and directed the team brilliantly.”
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Coetzee said Pollard’s calmness and experience remained invaluable for the Bulls.
“Sometimes we focus only on one aspect of a player’s game, but Handré is huge for this team and just the calmness he brings,” he said, while admitting that it was nerve-wracking watching the Bok pivot line up a kick for goal.
“I’m actually glad he had [his off day] in the semis and hopefully it’s a turnaround in the final,” he added.
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Johan Ackermann was equally relaxed about his flyhalf’s off day.
“Every golfer has a bad round somewhere along the line,” joked the Bulls coach. “Hopefully Handré had his bad round last time and tomorrow he’s back on song.”
Photo: Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images
The post Bulls back Polly to bring his kicking boots appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Vodacom Bulls expect Handré Pollard to respond in Friday night’s URC final against Leinster in Dublin after a rare off day with the boot two weeks ago.
The post Bulls back Polly to bring his kicking boots appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
