Handre Pollard expects Pumas to bounce back hard

Planet Rugby 19 Aug 2021 11:40 AM

South Africa fly-half Handré Pollard is eager to back up last week’s comfortable triumph over Argentina in their Rugby Championship rematch this Saturday.

Pollard, who is one of eleven changes made to the starting line-up that prevailed 32-12 in Port Elizabeth in Round One, is highly motivated on his return.

He comes back into the side after a victorious British & Irish Lions series, with the next objective to defend their Rugby Championship title from 2019.

Proud nation

But Pollard is not getting ahead of himself as he knows Argentina are set to come out fighting after their disappointing performance in the first round.

“They are going to be very emotional, and they are going to come hard at us,” he told the Springboks’ website.

“They are a proud nation with proud players, and they know they were not at their best last Saturday.

“The plan we had worked on the weekend, but there are things we can do better.

“That said, the guys that played (last week) did a great job, and for those of us coming in it will be about getting onto the same page as quickly as possible.

“A high standard has been set and it is now our responsibility to maintain that and do even better.”

Following the Lions series, Pollard and several other star players were given the week off and he’s hailed the squad as a whole for how they stepped up.

“It’s not hard (to play one week and have the next one off),” he continued.

“There is no rest in this team, our roles just change. We helped prepare the team that played last weekend, and they’ve been doing the same for us this week.

“The difference is that over the weekend one can relax and have a little break, which is also good.”

That breather should stand them in good stead but when asked about the criticism the Boks have received over their playing style, he refused to be riled.

“It is what it is, and it’s the way we play. We want to win matches and that is working for us at the moment,” he said.