Pollard unfazed by burden of becoming youngest Bulls captain in Super Rugby history

23 February 2017 - 18:59 By Mahlatse Mphahlele
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One the eve of becoming the youngest Bulls captain in Super Rugby history‚ 22-year old pivot Handrè Pollard does not appear to be burdened by the enormity of the responsibility.

Speaking at Loftus on Thursday after coach Nollis Marais announced a strong squad to take on the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday‚ Pollard admitted that leading the side would be a step up.

But he is not fazed.

In Saturday’s squad‚ Marais included lock Lood de Jager in the starting line-up for his debut and he joins other Springboks players Jesse Kriel‚ Jamba Ulengo‚ Rudy Paige‚ Jacques Potgieter and RG Snayman.

“Captaining the Bulls is a step up and it will also be harder to lead guys who are older than me but we have a great environment and vibe in the team‚" said Pollard‚ who has captained national junior teams.

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"As a flyhalf you are mostly in control all the time on the field to make big calls and there is not much of a change."

Asked what is going to be his captaincy style‚ Pollard said he will draw from the experience of playing under distinguished leaders like Victor Matfield‚ Jean de Villiers‚ Schalk Burger Fourie de Preez‚ Adriaan Strauss and John Smit.

“I have had the privilege of playing for unbelievable captains in my short career like Victor Matfield‚ Jean de Villiers‚ Schalk Burger‚ Fourie de Preez‚ Adriaan Strauss and John Smit.

"I learned a lot from them and I will definitely take some things from each of them. But at the end of the day‚ we are a new team‚ this is my own journey and I will have to do it my own way‚” he said.

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Pollard will be making his first Super Rugby appearance since May 2015 when he played against the Brumbies in Canberra.

His absence was largely due to an injury that robbed him of the entire season last year and he can’t wait to run on to the field.

“Not much has changed in the tournament‚ Super Rugby is an unbelievable competition with high intensity and physicality and I am looking forward to getting a taste of it again.

"I will have to adjust and the nice thing about Newlands Stadium is that there is always a good crowd.

"It will be amazing to play in front of such a crowd because it makes the guys excited.

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"After a long pre-season‚ it will be the perfect way to start the tournament in front of a packed stadium and show people what we have been doing behind the scenes.”

The last time the Bulls beat the Stormers at Newlands was six years ago and Pollard said they are determined to get things right this time around.

“It has been a few years since we beat them in Cape Town and that is a box that we want to tick. But it is not something that all our focus is on.

"Our focus is on executing our plans properly on the day but at the back of our heads it will be getting a win there.

"The rivalry matters‚ it is an important part of South African rugby and it is a great opportunity for us to show people that SA rugby is in a good place‚” he concluded.

Bulls Squad: 15. Jesse Kriel‚ 14. Jamba Ulengo‚ 13. Dries Swanepoel‚ 12. Burger Odendaal‚ 11. Travis Ismaiel‚ 10. Handre Pollard (captain)‚ 9. Rudy Paige‚ 8. Hanro Liebenberg‚ 7. Jacques Potgieter‚ 6. Nick de Jager‚ 5. RG Snyman‚ 4. Lood de Jager‚ 3. Trevor Nyakane‚ 2. Jaco Visagie‚ 1 Pierre Schoeman.

Replacements: 16. Edgar Marutlelle‚ 17. Jacobie Adriaanse‚ 18. Lizo Gqoboka‚ 19. Jason Jenkins‚ 20. Ruan Steenkamp‚ 21. Piet van Zyl‚ 22. Tian Schoeman‚ 23. Warrick Gelant.

- TMG Digital

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