Handre Pollard has been recalled by South Africa to play at fly-half of their last Rugby World Cup Pool B fixture towards Tonga on Sunday.

He was a late addition to the squad as an harm alternative and can make his first look of the event for the Springboks in Marseille.

There are 12 adjustments to the beginning line-up that misplaced to Eire in Paris.

Solely Jasper Wiese, Eben Etzebeth and captain Siya Kolisi have saved their locations within the facet overwhelmed 13-8 on 23 September.

Pollard’s most up-to-date outing for his nation was towards Australia in August 2022 and Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber mentioned he expects a “real looking efficiency” from the fly-half.

“I feel that is the place we should all keep within the actuality of it,” mentioned Nienaber. “He hasn’t performed for the Boks in 13 months, he hasn’t performed top-level rugby because the first week in Might, which is nineteen weeks in the past.

“In saying that, he is a top quality rugby participant and everyone knows that. He is gained a World Cup earlier than, he is gained a British and Irish Lions collection earlier than, so he understands what worldwide rugby and prime worldwide rugby is about.

“However I feel we should keep actual in that – and provides him time to settle in and get used to the tempo of it.”

Faf de Klerk and Manie Libbok each failed with efforts from the tee towards Eire, growing requires the return of Pollard, who kicked 22 factors in South Africa’s 2019 last win over England in Japan.

Nonetheless, Nienaber mentioned he was extra upset by losing possibilities for tries on the Stade de France.

He added: “We had 4 alternatives inside one metre of their goalline which we butchered. That, for me, is a a lot greater subject that now we have to type out.

“You’ll be able to’t get your self inside one metre of Eire’s try-line and you then butcher 4 alternatives.”

Deon Fourie, often employed within the again row, will begin at hooker and flanker Marco van Staden will present cowl for the quantity two place from the bench.

South Africa are properly positioned to qualify for the final eight having overwhelmed Scotland and Romania of their first two pool matches earlier than the Eire defeat.

Nonetheless, third-placed Scotland, who’ve two video games nonetheless to play, retain hopes of progressing from Pool B.

South Africa group to face Tonga: Le Roux; Williams, Moodie, Esterhuizen, Mapimpi; Pollard, Reinach; Nche, Fourie, Koch, Etzebeth, Orie, Kolisi (capt), Vermeulen, Wiese.

Replacements: Van Staden, Kitshoff, Nyakane, Mostert, Smith, Hendrikse, Kriel, Libbok.