Lambie first in line

26 November 2014 - 02:52 By Craig Ray in Cardiff, Wales
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ON THE TEE: Springbok flyhalf Pat Lambie is in the driving seat to wear the No10 jersey for South Africa in the World Cup next year after an impressive northern hemisphere tour
ON THE TEE: Springbok flyhalf Pat Lambie is in the driving seat to wear the No10 jersey for South Africa in the World Cup next year after an impressive northern hemisphere tour
Image: STEVE HAAG/GETTY IMAGES

Three matches into the northern hemisphere tour and it is clear Pat Lambie has now emerged as the first-choice Springbok flyhalf.

Lambie, 24, will start against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday - his third consecutive start on tour - with Handré Pollard in the reserves.

With the World Cup in England now only 11 months away, Lambie has the inside track to wear the No10 jersey when the Boks attempt to win the title for the third time.

Pollard, 20, was given first opportunity on tour to stake a claim against Ireland, but after a mediocre performance he failed to make the most of his chance.

He was, admittedly, the victim of some wayward service from scrumhalf Francois Hougaard.

It was also telling that Pollard never made it off the bench against England. Coach Heyneke Meyer trusted Lambie to close out the match and, in the process, he controlled the game well.

He also offered one piece of brilliance, with a perfectly weighted dink over the top that led to a try for Cobus Reinach.

Against Italy last week Lambie took the ball to the line several times, which negated Italy's wide, rushing defence, and gave the Boks forward momentum.

His line-kicking was also deadly accurate, although Pollard reminded the coach of his class when he came off the bench.

He was involved in a lovely interchange with fullback Willie le Roux that led to a try for wing Bryan Habana.

Meyer has a welcome selection problem at flyhalf.

"I've been given a few opportunities over the past few years and again on this tour," Lambie said.

"I'm going to try make the most of them. There is healthy competition for the flyhalf jersey."

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