Springboks choose Pollard at fly-half for Ireland Test

There had been speculation that the more creative but inconsistent goal-kicker Manie Libbok might get the nod for the highly anticipated clash of the top-ranked teams. But coach Rassie Erasmus kept faith in Pollard, whose 100 percent goal-kicking record played a crucial role in South Africa achieving back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles last October. Pollard did not make the initial 2023 World Cup squad for France due to injury but came in during the tournament as a replacement after hooker Malcolm Marx was ruled out.