Springboks and Leicester Tigers flyhalf Handre Pollard has backed South African teams to rise to the challenge of the Champions Cup.
The Bulls, Stormers and Sharks will make their European debut this weekend, and Springboks’ pivot Pollard believes that his fellow countrymen will take the competition to a “completely different level.”
Benefit of adding the South Africans
The former Bulls fly-half is convinced that the South Africans will improve the tournament, particularly after a year or two.
“I understand completely some people are like ‘, What are they doing here?” Pollard said.
“But after a year or two, it’ll benefit the competition. It took the URC to a completely different level, and I honestly believe they’ll be the same with the Champions Cup.”
Adding a new flavour
Pollard waxed lyrical about the style of the South African sides ahead of the tournament praising their attacking intent and physicality.
“The South African teams will bring a great new flavour to the competition. They have been playing a really nice, attacking brand of rugby in the URC, while the physicality is the difference between the top four or five teams in the Champions Cup.
“It’s bred into us, so that part of the game is pretty set,” he said.
However, the 28-year-old warned his fellow countrymen that they would need to improve tactically to compete with the best the competition offers.
“The clubs in South Africa will have to become smarter tactically to compete with the top teams in Europe.
“It might take them a couple of years to find their feet because it’s so different, but I think it’ll be great. People will enjoy it,” he explained.
“The weather is going to play a role. Going to South Africa in January, it’s going to be hot, humid, and tough, and then the next week, you come up here in the snow! It’s going to be very interesting to see how the teams can adjust.”
The thrill of Europe’s big stage
Pollard is excited for the South African players who will be experiencing some of the biggest stages Europe offers for the first time.
“Seven, eight years ago, we were saying to ourselves that the Champions Cup is so awesome, and we wished we were playing in it,” he said.
“I was saying how I’d like to come to England to play in it, and now the boys are playing in it anyway!
“For them to come over and play in the Stade Michelin against Clermont or go to the Aviva and play Leinster, it will be great to see our young guys in South Africa take that pressure, thrive under and learn from it.
“It’ll be a great learning experience. I’m very excited to see what they can do.”
No easy games
The 65-test cap Springbok added that he hopes the South African teams will do well this season to give the fans a better understanding of just how big the competition is.
“Hopefully, some of the South African teams can do well this season, just to get our fans more of a taste for what it is like going into the play-offs.
“People might be pretty sceptical in the beginning, not understanding quite, but I think they will quickly realise it is massive, and they’ll enjoy it.
“Every game is tough in the Champions Cup; there is no easy game.”
The Sharks host Harlequins on Saturday in the first Champions Cup fixture involving a South African side. The Stormers follow shortly afterwards as they head into the iconic Stade Marcel-Michelin to face Clermont. The Bulls are the last to debut as they host last season’s Challenge Cup winners, Lyon.
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