Morne Steyn has thrown his weight behind the Pollard-for-Feinberg-Mngomezulu switch for the second Test, arguing that Pollard's consistency and kicking reliability make him the safer option when Erasmus needs a response. Steyn is clear he rates SFM, but doesn't think the youngster had his best day at Ellis Park — and with uncertainty around Kolbe's fitness having shifted the kicking burden in the first Test, Pollard's reliable boot becomes even more valuable. On Willemse, Steyn sees him as a legitimate inside centre option but believes his high-ball ability and kicking make full-back his best position for the Boks right now.
Perhaps more interestingly, Steyn takes the contrarian view that the 33-16 defeat is not a crisis but a corrective — arguing that after 12 consecutive Test wins, the Boks needed a loss to learn from, particularly with the World Cup on the horizon. He explicitly frames it as a growth opportunity rather than a structural problem, echoing John Smit's point that South African fans tend toward catastrophising. If you want a measured, insider perspective on the Pollard selection logic and why one of the Boks' greatest fly-halves sees the Ellis Park result as potentially useful, the full piece is worth your time.