Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard is confident that the Springboks will overcome and bounce back against France in Paris after their poor showing last weekend.
READ: Pollard's Bok return the end for Jantjies?
The last time Pollard started a Test was against Argentina in the Bronze Playoff at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee seems to have lost faith in Elton Jantjies - after he struggled in their 38-3 loss to Ireland - and selected Pollard instead.
Pollard has struggled with subsequent injuries over the last two years and made his return to the international fold off the bench in three Tests this year.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's clash at the Stade de France, Pollard said he wants to lead and get the Springboks back to winning ways.
"I've always been a leader. It's something you have or you don't," Pollard told reporters, as quoted by Reuters.
"That said, I believe everyone in this side does. You don't become a Springbok if you don't have the ability to take charge.
"In these conditions you have to show some calm. We have to be clinical
and do the basics better than we did last week. Then the moments of
magic will come."
Pollard admits that they're still stinging over their record Irish defeat.
"We're still hurting. We're going to take that hurt into this weekend's game," he said.
"A lot of the guys in really important positions were experiencing northern hemisphere conditions for the first time last week. We have learned from that and the adjustment has been plain in the last few days of training."
READ: Bok record in France suggests tight affair
France played three Tests away to South Africa in June, losing all three by more than 20 points.
South Africa have won the last five meetings between the teams and lead their overall head-to-head record 25-11, with six draws.
Kick-off is at 22:00 SA time.
Teams:
France
15 Nans Ducuing, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12 Mathieu Bastareaud, 11 Yoann Huget, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Kevin Gourdon, 6 Judicael Cancoriet, 5 Paul Gabrillagues, 4 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Guilhem Guirado (captain), 1 Jefferson Poirot
Substitutes: 16 Clement Maynadier, 17 Sebastien Taofifenua, 18 Daniel Kotze, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, 20 Anthony Jelonch, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Francois Trinh-Duc, 23 Damian Penaud
South Africa
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Wilco Louw 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Dan du Preez, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Damian de Allende
