News about Handre Pollard

CHRIS FOY - WORLD OF RUGBY: As the Leicester faithful tried to come to terms with another let-down campaign, the backlash boiled over on Saturday to such an extent that the club may take action against some of their own disgruntled fans. The cause of the unrest was a shocking collapse by the Tigers, who were beaten again at Welford Road. Bristol were down and out, or so it seemed, trailing 19-0 with 11 minutes left. Not so. Leicester couldn't close it out. Reduced to 14 men, they folded, conceding three late tries to lose 21-19. It was a calamitous result which snuffed out any faint hope in the East Midlands that the Tigers could reach the play-offs, which was once an annual routine. Those present didn't take it well at all, as the aftermath of the game turned toxic.

DAN BIGGAR: I captained Wales on my 100th cap against Italy in Cardiff in 2022. On the same day, Alun Wyn Jones made his 150th Test appearance for his country. It was supposed to be a party. It became a nightmare. I'm back to it now, but much was made of mine and Alun Wyn's classic games. I'm not positive we were as focused as we should have been on the task at hand.

I've been speaking with Handre Pollard, a Leicester teammate who has won the last two World Cups with South Africa, about the Felix Jones-inspired blitz defence now used by England. Jones was a central figure in the Springbok campaign, which saw global prominence in 2019 and 2023. Though doing the assault with them, the South African-style defence he is trying to establish clearly works. A blitz defense is difficult to master, and it took South Africa time to do so. But when they did, it was a potent weapon for them. The same can be true for England if they stick with it, and Jones can continue to encourage the players to buy into this way of defense. England has lost three Six Nations games to Scotland in recent history, so Steve Borthwick's side will have to rewrite recent history to make it three wins from three in 2024.

The English clubs' rousing start to the Champions Cup season is in danger of faltering this weekend, as the modern-day spectre of squad rotation is expected to have an effect on the second round of pool fixtures. Round one was a spectacular demonstration of how effective the Premiership challengers can be when fully focused, as seven of the eight teams in the premier cross-border tournament claimed their first matches. However, Bristol, Sale and Leicester have rested a slew of their top lights for away games on Saturday and Sunday, highlighting the challenges of coping with a packed schedule of playing resources that have been largely ignored by the leading French and Irish sides.

Dan McKellar, the Leicester Tigers' head coach, read the riot act to his players at halftime, triggering a second-half victory over the Stormers. Leicester started the game as strong favorites, only to trail 17-10 at the break. The visitors' decision to leave most of their big-name players in South Africa to prepare for La Rochelle next week.

SIMON NIK SIMON AT WELFORD ROAD: Handre Pollard regained his golden touch at Welford Road as Handre Pollard returned from the World Cup to kick Leicester to a crucial win. Pollard added a man-of-the-match trophy to his collection three weeks after the Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in Paris. Francois van Wyk and Hanro Liebenberg's tyrantic victories lifted the heat on Leicester's new coaching staff, who had suffered four losses in five games.

ALEX BYWATER AT MATTIOLO WOODS WELFORD ROAD: This was supposed to be the day Leicester were supposed to return to form. It didn't happen. Handre Pollard and Jasper Wiese, both South Africans, were crowned World Cup champions right before kick-off, and the Tigers welcomed England stars back. Dan McKellar's team didn't have enough resources for victory. Leicester has now lost four of their five Premiership games this season. It's still early days, but a top-four finish seems unlikely. Leicester was good in the initial stages, but they were defeated five tries to three and made too many mistakes. Even with Marcus Smith's poor showing in his No. 10 battle with Pollard, Harlequins won by a bonus-point triumph.

CHRIS FOY IN PARIS: It all made sense when he had finished putting the magnitude of his team's achievement into words. Both the numbers were good enough, but they didn't have enough detail to paint the whole picture. Four times has the first country to win the World Cup. By a single point margin, three consecutive knock-out victories were decided by a single margin. On Saturday night, Pieter-Steph du Toit scored a spectacular 28 tackles. Handre Pollard's stellar goal-kicking game was another flawless goal-kicking shift, taking 13 shots in four games and landing the lot.

South Africa defeated England in the 2019 World Cup final and are just one game away from defending their country's crown. The Springboks will face New Zealand in the final on Saturday after seeing off hosts France and squeezing past England last weekend. South Africa will need more from their wingers than they did in the semi-finals, and Sky Bet has a 'Price Boost' available for both men if they are to beat the All Blacks.

With the biggest game in world rugby fast approaching, New Zealand coach Ian Foster has already selected his team to face the reigning champions South Africa at the Stade de France. In what promises to be a thrilling, enthralling, and flamboyant attacking game between the reigning champions' resolute, robust, and stalwart defensive prowess, the All-Blacks' thrilling, enthralling, and flamboyant offensive prowess will clash with the reigning champions' explosive, agile, and stalwart defensive prowess in what promises to be a thrilling culture clash. South Africa had stoutled out a spirited England team last time out, with Handre Pollard knocking out a late penalty just 157 seconds before time would have broken Steve Borthwick's hearts, while New Zealand defeated favourites Ireland.

After World Rugby concluded an inquiry into hooker Bongi Mbonambi, allowing him to participate in the Rugby World Cup final, South African newspapers have expressed disappointment. Following an allegation lodged by England's Tom Curry during the semi-finals in Paris last weekend, Mbonambi had been placed under scrutiny by the governing body. Curry claimed that Mbonambi had branded him a 'white ****' during the match, where South Africa emerged as 16-15 champions.

SIR CLIVE WOORDWARD: England may have lost their World Cup semi-final with South Africa by the narrowest of margins, but it was their best result since 2019 bar none. Not since the national team beat New Zealand in the last four years in Japan, four years ago, do we come close to seeing Steve Borthwick's team against the Springboks on display. We should all agree that this was a limited game plan. It was what the circumstances required, but the simple truth is that it was England's only hope of defeating South Africa. It was also England's most cohesive, united, and enthralling display for a long time.

NIK SIMON: On Saturday, England agonically dropped out of the Rugby World Cup, defeating South Africa by just one point. Borthwick's side got off to a promising start, with replacement Handre Pollard's 18th minute penalty from half way to break English hearts. South Africa has reached their second straight World Cup final, this time against New Zealand, as they look to win back-to-back tournaments.

On Sunday, ITV reported their highest viewing figures of 2023 as a result of England's bitter Rugby World Cup semi-final loss to South Africa. Although the Spring Boks gained only one point from their heroic display on Steve Borthwick's side, winning 16-15 after scoring a converted try and penalty in the last 11 minutes. With four penalties and a drop goal, Owen Farrell put England up for the final, but their hopes of qualifying were shattered, as second-row Rudolph Gerhardyman crashed over for the defending world champions, who had only two minutes remaining on the clock.

CHRIS FOY IN PARIS: Since flanker Tom Curry made a first-half complaint to referee Ben O'Keeffe at the Stade de France, England's glorious departure from the World Cup has been marred by a potential racial storm. In the 28th minute of the national team's agonising 16-15 defeat against South Africa on Saturday night, the Sale openside approached the New Zealand official and is heard to say over the ref mic: 'Sir, sir, if their hooker calls me a white c**t, what do I do?' 'Nothing, please,' O'Keeffe replied.'

South Africa was pushed all the way by England. They had a blast, but it didn't look like it would be enough. To die at the death was beyond cruel, but it was also painful. England conceded in the final quarter to scrum penalties, giving the Springboks the opportunity. And they took it. I felt that the game would be decided by the impact off the benches, and South African replacements were outstanding to a man. Their coaches reaacted quickly to make tactical changes, and it worked. Ox Nche was congratulated on several occasions after he was chastised on several fronts. And the fact that it was my Leicester teammate Handre Pollard who kicked the match-winning penalty showed that Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber were correct to face Manie Libbok in the first half. England will be more devastated than ever. With two minutes to go, they were only late for the first time. But that's all that matters. They can certainly be proud of their efforts. They were so close.

England lost so close to being able to run the world champions so close and then lose it in the last two minutes due to Handre Pollard's penalty. However, being critical of the team is difficult, because they did so well last night and they can hold their heads up. Given that the team didn't have a chance by most people, they had to give England a lot of credit and be proud of the team after losing a thrilling game in Paris. This game blew the roof off compared to New Zealand's victory over Argentina on Friday night at the same stadium, which was horrific. Steve Borthwick's team started off trying to reach the South Africans but then had to call it off due to a scrum call. They might have won or lost, but they might have lost, but this is a game that must be won or lost, and England came out on the wrong side.

STEPHEN DAVIES: Owen Farrell was beaming in Paris after the team's last-gasp World Cup heartache, but then they announced that the future is promising for the England rugby team. The England captain was just a few minutes away from leading his team out in a World Cup final, but Handre Pollard's late penalty sealed South Africa's passage. The 32-year-old, one of seven players over 30 in Steve Borthwick's squad, may have missed his last World Cup, but the team has a solid reputation. Head coach Borthwick also shared Farrell's good news, who had somehow turned England from a pre-tournament laughing stock to a team three minutes from advancing to the global showpiece.

Many people expected England to falter at the tournament and be knocked out quickly after a poor showing leading up to the World Cup. But England fans should have been proud to see a superb result against South Africa tonight, led by Owen Farrell's solid kicking show and superb catching from Freddie Steward. Despite their efforts, Handre Pollard led the Springboks on a remarkable comeback. Mannie Libbok had a bad match after being recalled on the thirty minute mark, to the delight of viewers. However, it was the South African 'bomb squad' of Snyman, Nche, Fourie, and Koch that swung the game's momentum.

One thump of the ball was thrown. One dagger has stolen English hearts. This was the cruellest way for it to come to an end, with Handre Pollard's 78th minute penalty costing England of one of their biggest upsets in history. They were so close. The Springboks were almost dead. They were merely starving for the old taxidermy shop in the 3rd arrondissement after being exposed to an hour of tactic t orture. This England squad hasn't had pulses racing in recent weeks, but last night, they brought a ferociousness to the Stade de France roof, sending the beats per minute of 78,000 inside. Owen Farrell met his sweetest 40-meter drop target of his life. It was a proud, defiant job that nearly pushed them through to the most unlikely of finals. Their dream is over, instead, thanks to Pollard's joking that brought his coaching box into tears.

Punts in Red Rose jerseys were seen sinking pints in the run-up to the Springboks' grudge match against the Springboks earlier today. When the team takes to the field in the French capital, some 20,000 England supporters are expected to cheer on the team. But Steve Borthwick's team is going into the match as the underdogs, with bookies giving odds of just 5/1 to defeat the current world champions.

England is aiming for their second straight Rugby World Cup final on Tuesday, but South Africa is also up for a tough challenge. When they defeated Fiji, Steve Borthwick's side survived a big scare to make it five wins out of five. When South Africa defeated France last weekend, they played out one of the best matches of the tournament.

South Africa will face England in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals on Saturday evening as the clear favorites. After winning in the final twice, the Springboks will be looking to deny England on rugby's biggest stage once more. South Africa defeated 32-12 in the 2019 final in Tokyo, as well as the 2007 clash at the Stade de France. South Africa is one step closer to winning their fourth Rugby World Cup title at the same venue in Paris. Siya Kolisi and his South African team have been boosted during the tournament by France's continued help of their wives and girlfriends. The team has been supported by their families and friends through the lows of being defeated by Ireland in the pool phase to the excitement of downing hosts France last weekend. Mail Sport looks at how the support system around South Africa's stars is functioning off the field as they seek World Cup glory once more.

SIMON (NIK SIMON): England's players will still have 'beef' from their defeat in the 2019 World Cup final, according to No. 10 Handre Pollard. In the match in Yokohama, Pollard scored 22 points as Eddie Jones' game-plan was foiled by South Africa's physicality. Rassie Erasmus was the first to say that the defeat would still be on English minds, and Pollard denied this.