Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard is excited at the ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ to play the British Irish Lions.
The Springboks have not played international rugby due to the Covid pandemic and lockdown restrictions around the world since the 2nd of November 2019 when they won the Rugby World Cup with a 32-12 victory against England.
South Africa finally have their first test-match of the year when they play Georgia at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night and Pollard will start at flyhalf.
The Springboks play Georgia again on Friday 9 July at Emirates Airlines Park, however all eyes are on the British Irish Lions tour which takes place in South Africa once every 12 years.
The British Irish Lions get their tour underway against the Johannesburg based Lions at Emirates Airlines Park on Saturday the 3rd of July at 18:00
Speaking to members of the media on a virtual press conference Pollard said that the Lions tour is a once in a lifetime opportunity which he cannot wait to experience.
“There are no words to describe the excitement of getting a chance to play the Lions and I am just happy it is happening. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Most of us in this squad now are a similar age and we grew up watching the 2009 series. We got a lot of inspiration from that,” said Pollard.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber described the Lions tour as the pinnacle of a players career and explained that the Springboks have strict Covid protocols in place which are being observed in the build-up to the test series.
“At some stage of the year it looked like a distant goal that’s too far to reach but I think we here now.
“We adhere to those protocols (Covid protocols) and protect ourselves as much as we can. From the Springboks side there is not a player who doesn’t want to participate in what is a special tour. It comes around only once every 12 years and is the pinnacle of any player’s career,” – commented Nienaber.
Stadium Management South Africa is looking forward to hosting the second and the third British Irish Lions test matches at FNB Stadium on the 31st of July and the 7th of August.