Calf injury forces Pollard out of second Springboks Test against All Blacks

Handre Pollard has been withdrawn from South Africa’s second Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town due to a calf injury, according to reports from Netwerk24, leaving the Springboks’ flyhalf position in flux ahead of the fixture.

Pollard, 32, had been elevated into the starting line-up after Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu — who started the first Test — was moved to the bench. With Pollard now unavailable, Mannie Libbok is expected to step in, though it remains unclear whether Libbok will start or whether Feinberg-Mngomezulu will be restored to the No.10 role.

The injury is another setback for Pollard, who missed the Springboks’ third Nations Championship fixture against Wales in July with a hamstring problem. Feinberg-Mngomezulu himself has only recently returned from an ankle injury sustained in the URC quarter-final.

Coach Rassie Erasmus had explained his original decision to start Pollard by pointing to the veteran’s composure in high-stakes moments. “Handre has delivered for us under extreme pressure, and we feel that what he and Cobus have the potential to bring at the beginning of the game, and then have Morne and Sacha come on later with their different styles of play, will be good for us this weekend,” Erasmus said.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s two performances in the series have been described as indifferent, which had prompted Erasmus to turn to Pollard’s experience. The late enforced change now complicates those plans significantly.

There is also uncertainty surrounding captain Siya Kolisi, who was named on the team sheet alongside Paul de Villiers. Kolisi returned from injury against Argentina but departed before half-time with a hamstring issue, leaving his availability for the Cape Town Test in doubt.