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Bok coach: Kolbe can play 10

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Handre Pollard high fives Cheslin Kolbe

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber will consider Cheslin Kolbe at flyhalf if regulars Handre Pollard and Elton Jantjies are unavailable for selection.

Nienaber was discussing the Bok flyhalf situation during a wide-ranging media briefing prior to the first alignment camp in Durban this week.

He said that he was quite concerned at the beginning of this year, as Pollard and Jantjies were both injured, leaving a gap in a position where the Springboks do not have the greatest depth.

Should neither Pollard nor Jantjies pick up enough minutes before Wales arrive in South Africa in July, Nienaber said that would have the Springboks fielding Frans Steyn or Damian Willemse at flyhalf, despite both having played more frequently at inside centre this year.

Nienaber also mentioned Kolbe, who is more of a specialist outside back, and Johan Goosen, currently recovering from a long-term knee injury, as options at 10.

“That’s why last year our thoughts were on getting an experienced head in the squad like Morne Steyn. Remember, we have Frans Steyn who can play there, Gaza [Damian Willemse], Cheslin put in some excellent performances for Toulouse last year before he went to Toulon, where he played for Toulouse at flyhalf.

“So, there are third-choice options that we can use within the squad. But that’s also why it’s important to have a look at a guy like Johan [Goosen]. It would be nice to know where he is at and if he still wants to be part of it.”

Pollard made his return to the field on Sunday as a substitute for Montpellier in the European Champions Cup, playing 20 minutes against English side Harlequins. Jantjies, meanwhile, has returned to South Africa and will consult a specialist over his shoulder injury. If he is cleared, then he will fly back to Japan to play for Red Hurricanes, who have four games remaining this season.

“It was quite a shock, at one stage I was thinking that if we have to play a Test match now, both of our regular flyhalves are injured,” Nienaber said. “Handre is back to fitness again and Elton had his surgery again and will actually be at the alignment camp because he and Malcolm Marx will be doing their rehabilitation.

“Elton is doing very well, he will be seeing a specialist in the next week or two. If he gets the all-clear, he will head back to Japan and rejoin his club, which is in a promotion-relegation battle, so he wants to add some value there. Hopefully, he gets some games in Japan but we first want to make sure that he can get signed off by the specialist who operated on him.”

Nienaber added that despite his concerns with the local flyhalves in February, he was impressed by the performances from the likes of Manie Libbok and Curwin Bosch in the latest round of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

“Then if you look at the URC and the quality of flyhalves, especially on [Saturday] night, I thought there were some excellent performances. Some of them are performing at the best levels that they have been in quite some time.

“I have to be quite honest, in January and February, I was quite worried in terms of our depth at flyhalf. I was sitting there and wanting someone to stick up their hand. Now, if I look at last night’s performances, there were four hands raised, saying we are ready to go.”

Photo: Adam Pretty/Getty Images