There has been some respite for Springbok supporters over the festive season.
Not only did the Boks take to the field since November 26 in Cardiff, but the Proteas brought great joy to South African sport with their victories over Australia and Sri Lanka.
Soon, though, we will all be going through the tumble dryer of emotions in willing on our favourite Super Rugby teams, and telling Allister Coetzee which players to pick for the Boks.
A new skipper will be needed after Adriaan Strauss quit the highest level, but as desperate as things stand, let it not be Handré Pollard.
A report on Wednesday stated that Pollard was also in the running to take over from Strauss at the Bulls for Super Rugby, but coach Nollis Marais has to be careful about putting all his eggs in the Pollard basket.
The former Junior Springbok skipper’s last game at a high level (he went to Japan afterwards) was on October 30 in 2015 – the third-place playoff against Argentina in London at the World Cup.
That’s over 15 months ago, and will be nearly 16 when he runs out at Newlands for the Bulls’ opening Super Rugby game against the Stormers on February 25.
There is no doubt that Pollard is a fine player, and leader too. If he had been on the field over the last year, he would be an inspired choice to captain the Bulls to bring a fresh dimension.
But after a tumultuous time on the sidelines, where there have been reports that he nearly lost an arm following an infection after shoulder surgery – coupled with his knee ligament damage in training that initially ruled him out for the season – Pollard has been through a lot.
He is a gifted player who has the ability to become a world star with the Boks if he stays fit, and continues to improve his goal-kicking to a high level of consistency.
But while the 22-year-old has had a brilliant career up to now, with 20 Springbok caps to his name, his comeback will be almost like a brand new beginning for him.
He will have to learn to handle the bumps and knocks of high-octane Super Rugby – especially as the Bulls are facing the New Zealand sides this year – and be the mastermind of what promises to be an exciting backline, with the likes of Rudy Paige, Jan Serfontein, Jesse Kriel, Jamba Ulengo and Warrick Gelant around him.
Pollard should be allowed to just do what he does best, and he will play a leadership role in the backline anyway. Someone like Serfontein, who has led national age-group teams before as well, would be an ideal candidate to become Bulls captain.
Apart from getting himself back to full fitness and his best form, Pollard is in a race for the Bok No 10 jersey with Patrick Lambie and Elton Jantjies too.
But whoever Marais opts for, one hopes that he won’t consider Pollard at the moment. That would be best for the player and in the national interest...
@ashfakmohamed