Nick Mallett has slammed Jacques Nienaber’s choice to go away Handre Pollard out of the World Cup squad as “puzzling”, however backed the flyhalf to nonetheless play a giant position for the Springboks in France.

Pollard, the top-scorer on the 2019 World Cup, was considered one of three massive omissions from the 33-player World Cup squad introduced in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

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The 65-cap flyhalf has not performed a Check since final August and has been battling a calf harm which has stored him on the sidelines since early Could.

Nevertheless, writing in his common column for Sport24, Mallett admitted Pollard’s omission left him perplexed, particularly within the context of comparable choices made round captain Siya Kolisi and scrumhalf Grant Williams.

“It’s unusual that Pollard is just not included. There are examples of different gamers who’re injured and had been included.

“You’ve bought captain Siya Kolisi, who hasn’t performed since his harm, you’ve bought Jaden Hendrikse who hasn’t performed since his harm and his father’s passing, you’ve bought Grant Williams who bought badly concussed and is out for 3 weeks not less than.”

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Pollard is on a five-player standby checklist that can journey with the Springboks to the UK for the ultimate two warm-up video games towards Wales and New Zealand.

Mallett believes Pollard will play in not less than a type of video games and might be referred to as into the squad on the first signal of harm to any participant.

“Pollard has to go, in the identical means Siya Kolisi has to go,” the previous Bok coach added.

“Pollard is a part of the gamers positioned on standby and I believe he’s going to play within the warm-up matches. How lengthy can a calf harm hold you out for? He’s had eight weeks.

“He’s not within the squad so he can’t be chosen. But when there may be an harm to any participant, together with a prop, I believe Pollard will go. They don’t have to interchange a prop with a prop, you possibly can change him with a flyhalf.”

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