"Sad ending" - Has Handré Pollard Played His Last Game for the Springboks?

Wales face a big opener vs Argentina but have a strong chance to top this pool. Samoa adds intrigue as the dark horse.

Hosted at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, the match will be played after Australia and New Zealand face-off in Perth on Saturday, meaning that whatever happens in the Bledisloe Cup, the championship is in the Boks’ hands.

Rassie Erasmus has named his side to face Los Pumas, and many see it as being the closest to full-strength that they’ve been able to put out all competition.

The biggest call that has been made is Handre Pollard being snubbed from the side entirely, as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starts and Manie Libbok features off the bench at fly-half. Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored 37 points, a record for a South African in a Test match, in their previous game against Argentina.

Libbok scored a brilliant solo try in the game too, and has recovered well after a poor performance against Australia in their Ellis Park defeat earlier on in the campaign.

The 28-year-old was also central to their huge win over the All Blacks in Wellington. Regardless of how well the two other fly-halves have done, it is still a surprising call to leave out Pollard, who is known for turning up in big games after scoring four penalties in the 2023 World Cup final and six in 2019.

Could this be the end for Handre Pollard? Only time will tell.

After a brief spell out with injury, Grant Williams is back, albeit on the bench for this one. The scrum-half is widely regarded as the best in his position in South Africa, so his availability will be warmly received by Springboks fans. Cobus Reinach starts and Williams’ pace coming off the bench could be a dangerous weapon against tired defenders.

Many are eagerly anticipating the Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Williams half-back linkup, as there hasn’t yet been a time where they have played together whilst at their best. The two could compliment each other well and be a very exciting partnership.

Cheslin Kolbe, Ethan Hooker and Damian Willemse all appeared to have injuries that were going to keep them out of this game, however all three feature in the back three, with Kolbe and Hooker on the wings. Hooker has impressed in his four international caps so far and brings height to the wing that works well with Kolbe’s speed,

The medical team at the Boks deserves a lot of credit for the three all being available, and fans will be hoping that all three are at full-fitness as opposed to playing before they are fully ready to.

With the new six-pool format confirmed, here’s a projected draw based on current World Rugby Rankings — with Wales sitting in Band 2.

South Africa (Band 1) — Reigning World Champions, famed for their physical dominance and tactical brilliance.

Australia (Band 2) — Rugby hosts with a rich history and a passionate home crowd.

Japan (Band 3) — High-paced attackers who stunned the world in 2019.

Portugal (Band 4) — Rising force in European rugby, known for their scrappy determination.

? Storyline: South Africa vs Australia could be a World Cup final preview — Portugal and Japan will battle for third place.

Ireland (Band 1) — Consistently at the top of world rugby, masters of strategic play.

Scotland (Band 2) — Brave and battle-hardened, with a history of giant-killing performances.

Spain (Band 3) — Emerging side bringing flair and unpredictability.

Romania (Band 4) — Rugby stalwarts with physical forward packs.

? Storyline: Ireland and Scotland renew their rivalry in a high-stakes pool. Spain could cause an upset.

New Zealand (Band 1) — The All Blacks, rugby royalty with speed, skill, and killer instinct.

Fiji (Band 2) — Fijian flair and athleticism make them dangerous in any matchup.

USA (Band 3) — Big, athletic squad with growing ambitions.

Hong Kong China (Band 4) — Developing team looking to make an impact on the world stage.

? Storyline: Expect fireworks between New Zealand and Fiji; USA and Hong Kong will battle for the third spot.

France (Band 1) — World Cup hosts in 2023, dynamic attackers, crowd favourites.

Italy (Band 2) — Tough, resilient side with big scrummaging power.

Tonga (Band 3) — Physical, passionate, unpredictable warriors.

Canada (Band 4) — Experienced team, looking to build consistency.

? Storyline: France should lead this pool, but Tonga’s unpredictability makes this one dangerous.

England (Band 1) — Powerful, well-drilled side with a deep tactical playbook.

Georgia (Band 2) — Known for a dominant forward pack and fierce defence.

Uruguay (Band 3) — South American fighters with resilience to match their passion.

Zimbabwe (Band 4) — Underdogs aiming to shock the world.

? Storyline: England’s depth makes them favourites, but Georgia could make it interesting.

Argentina (Band 1) — Tough, skilled, and battle-tested with World Cup pedigree.

Wales (Band 2) — Six Nations contenders with a blend of power and precision.

Chile (Band 3) — South American dark horse making their mark.

Samoa (Band 4) — Fierce underdogs with a proud history and attacking flair.

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