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Cape Town - With Elton Jantjies in the saddle as the Springboks’ No 1 flyhalf, Handre Pollard could feature at centre on the team's trip to Australasia.
A fit-again Pollard was on Tuesday included in the Springbok touring squad for the Australasian leg of the Rugby Championship, with Curwin Bosch released to play for the Sharks in the Currie Cup.
Coach Allister Coetzee has been impressed by the efforts of Jantjies at flyhalf this season and hinted that he could utilise Pollard in midfield.
“Handre has made tremendous strides since he joined us in Stellenbosch and then for the two weeks in PE," Coetzee said at Cape Town International Airport after arriving back from Argentina on Tuesday.
“He is now ready to play and we’ll utilise him in a versatile role as he’s also able to cover the centre position for us.”
Pollard is likely to contest for a spot on the bench with Damian de Allende, who can play centre and wing.
The Boks’ next Test is against Australia in Perth on September 9, before a showdown with New Zealand in Albany the following Saturday (September 16).
Coetzee said he was happy with the efforts of Jantjies thus far in 2017.
“Elton’s leadership should not be underestimated. In five Tests this year he has been successful with 34 out of 38 kicks at goal and is continuously proving his ability to control games at Test level.”
The Springbok squad to Australia and New Zealand:
Forwards
Uzair Cassiem (flank), Cheetahs - 3 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Lood de Jager (lock), Bulls -29 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Ruan Dreyer (prop), Lions - 1 cap, 0 points
Dan du Preez (No 8), Sharks - uncapped
Jean-Luc du Preez (loose forward), Sharks - 6 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Pieter-Steph du Toit (lock), Stormers - 25 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Eben Etzebeth (lock), Stormers - 59 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Steven Kitshoff (prop), Stormers - 15 caps, 0 points
Siya Kolisi (flank), Stormers - 21 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Jaco Kriel (loose forward), Lions/Kubota Spears (Jap) - 10 caps, 0 points
Malcolm Marx (hooker), Lions - 7 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Stormers - 10 caps, 0 points
Franco Mostert (lock), Lions/Ricoh Black Rams (Japan) - 12 caps, 0 points
Tendai Mtawarira (prop), Sharks - 92 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Trevor Nyakane (prop), Bulls - 30 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Coenie Oosthuizen (prop), Sharks - 28 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Chiliboy Ralepelle (hooker), Sharks - 22 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Backs
Andries Coetzee (fullback), Lions - 5 caps, 0 points
Ross Cronje (scrumhalf), Lions - 3 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Damian de Allende (centre), Stormers - 24 Caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Francois Hougaard (scrumhalf), Worcester (England) - 44 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Elton Jantjies (flyhalf), Lions/NTT Shining Arcs (Japan) - 16 caps, 166 points (2 tries, 30 conversions, 32 penalties)
Jesse Kriel (centre), Bulls - 21 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Dillyn Leyds (utility back), Stormers - 3 caps, 0 points
Rudy Paige (scrumhalf), Bulls - 9 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Handre Pollard (flyhalf), Bulls - 20 caps, 188 points (2 tries, 29 conversions, 37 penalties, 3 drop goals)
Raymond Rhule (wing), Cheetahs - 5 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Jan Serfontein (centre), Bulls - 30 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Courtnall Skosan (wing), Lions - 5 caps, 5 points (1 try)
