Gerard Meagher raises the question Springbok fans will already be asking: is Pollard's late withdrawal genuinely a fitness issue, or a classic Erasmus curveball? The piece argues that swapping a conservative Pollard-led gameplan for the expansive Feinberg-Mngomezulu — despite SFM's stuttering recent form — could be calculated misdirection rather than disruption. With the Boks needing a win in Cape Town to level the series, Erasmus may be using the 'niggle' narrative to wrong-foot New Zealand's preparation while unleashing a ball-player the All Blacks were not specifically gameплanning for.
Analysis◆ BreakingSpringboksThe Guardian Rugby· updated
Pollard's 'niggle' or Erasmus misdirection? The fly-half switch that has the All Blacks guessing
Meagher questions whether Pollard's late withdrawal is injury or Erasmus misdirection — swapping a set-piece-heavy gameplan for SFM's attacking threat in a must-win Cape Town Test.
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