Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard was voted SA Rugby magazine’s MVP after steering South Africa to a 30-22 victory over the Wallabies at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
The 83-Test veteran and double World Cup winner delivered a flawless display from the tee, landing all six of his attempts for 15 points through three conversions and three penalties.
Pollard was the runaway winner of the post-match poll, claiming almost 55% of the vote. Cheslin Kolbe (12%) and Ox Nche (10%) rounded out the top three.
In scoring 15 points, Pollard also moved past centurion Percy Montgomery on the Springboks’ all-time Test points list. It was another milestone for a player whose career has been defined by composure under pressure, from his starring role in the 2019 World Cup final to his faultless goal-kicking in the knockout stages of the 2023 triumph in France.
Montgomery, who amassed 893 points in 102 Tests, has publicly backed Pollard to break his national record this season. “Handré is the right guy to break the record, and hopefully I will be in the stands when he does it,” Montgomery said on the Keo & Zels Rugby Podcast. “I think it will still be this season, given how many Tests the Boks play.”
Pollard’s performance against Australia underlined exactly why he is trusted to deliver in the biggest moments. He controlled the tempo, punished Wallaby indiscipline, and provided the steady hand South Africa needed to bounce back from their Ellis Park defeat. For Bok supporters, his presence at flyhalf remains a source of confidence whenever the scoreboard tightens and the margins are thin.
