Rugby player Pollard calls competition for a place beneficial for South Africa — TimesLIVE

In South Africa, 32-year-old national rugby team fly-half Handre Pollard said he remains motivated despite competition for the No. 10 position from younger players Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok. As TimesLIVE reports, Pollard is preparing for a one-off Test match against Australia.

Experience and injury

Pollard has won the World Cup twice, played 87 Test matches for South Africa and scored 837 points. He ranks second among the national team's leading scorers, trailing Percy Montgomery by 56 points.

This season, Pollard has played only two matches for the national team: the 17:10 win over Argentina and the 42:28 victory over Scotland at Loftus Versfeld. At the same time, he missed the recent four-match series against New Zealand due to a minor calf muscle tear sustained in training. The rugby player was due to play in the second match of the series in Cape Town, but the injury prevented him from taking the field.

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Battle for the position

According to Pollard, his game has become more mature with age, although his approach and attitude towards rugby have not changed. He believes Test rugby continues to be based on set pieces, kicking and solid defence.

Pollard described internal competition within the team as healthy and important for players' development. He noted that pressure from contenders for his position motivates everyone to improve, while the rugby players also help one another with advice. The fly-half separately praised Feinberg-Mngomezulu's talent, but stressed that experience is gained only through a large number of Test matches against different opponents and in different conditions.