Handré Pollard has called on South African franchises to channel their Champions Cup disappointment into a strong URC finish, acknowledging that the absence of home playoff games in Europe cost the SA sides dearly. Speaking ahead of the Bulls' clash with Dragons, he was pragmatic about the structural challenges — travel load, away knockout draws — but clear that the focus must now shift entirely to the URC's business end.
The more interesting thread in the piece is Pollard's glowing assessment of Embrose Papier, who has five man-of-the-match awards this season and is arguably the standout scrumhalf in the competition. Pollard says Papier's fundamentals have caught up with his natural X-factor, making him genuinely unplayable right now. Given Papier's continued omission from Bok alignment camps despite his form, the halfback's situation is shaping up as one of the more intriguing selection conversations heading into the international window.