Baptism of fire for Pollard

It is the only change Bok coach Heyneke Meyer has made to the team.

Pollard, 20, started as pivot against Scotland and in both Tests against Argentina, but was dropped from the squad for the match against the Wallabies in Perth last Saturday.

Veteran flyhalf Morne Steyn has been left out of the matchday 23-man squad for Saturday's Test, while Sharks' pivot Pat Lambie has been retained on the bench.

Meyer said Pollard's familiarity with New Zealand conditions, after playing in the Junior World Championships there earlier this year, had played a role in his selection. Pollard was named World Junior Player of the Year at the conclusion of the tournament.

"We felt that Handre has the right skills set for how we want to approach this game," Meyer said.

"It is also good continuity to have an almost unchanged squad," he added. "We know where we made mistakes last weekend and the players now have the opportunity to rectify these against the toughest opponents in world rugby."

Adriaan Strauss keeps his place in the hooking berth ahead of Bok stalwart Bismarck du Plessis.

SA squad:

Willie le Roux, Cornal Hendricks, Jan Serfontein, Jean de Villiers (captain), Bryan Habana, Handre Pollard, Ruan Pienaar, Duane Vermeulen, Marcell Coetzee, Francois Louw, Victor Matfield, Eben Etsebeth, Jannie du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Trevor Nyakane, Marcel van der Merwe, Lood de Jager, Warren Whiteley, Francois Hougaard, Pat Lambie, Damian de Allende.

(File Photo:Gallo Images)

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