Handre Pollard is World Cup bound, but won't play against Ireland

Flyhalf Handre Pollard will be France bound to join the Springbok camp at the Rugby World Cup, but it is not expected that he will play against Ireland in the defending champions' third Pool B match next weekend (23 September).

Following a tournament-ending knee injury to hooker Malcolm Marx during training on Wednesday, the Springboks are set to seize the opportunity to bring in the 2019 World Cup-winning flyhalf after he came through his Premiership Cup match for the Leicester Tigers against the Sale Sharks on Friday.

He was playing in his first rugby match since May and came off the bench.

As he makes his return to match fitness, Pollard is not likely to play against the World No 1-ranked Irish, but he could be in line for selection in the Springboks' final pool match against Tonga.

Every Handrè Pollard involvement in his cameo against Sale Sharks last night ????

Free of any agenda or bias, I have included every single involvement, good or bad. ? pic.twitter.com/Ba9Ie6vl1k

Bongi Mbonambi, the only specialist hooker in the squad, will captain the Springboks in their game against Romania, with utility forward Deon Fourie and Marco van Staden, who is down as a loose forward substitute, providing further cover in the No 2 position.

The Bok brains trust, who appear to prefer utility over an additional specialist hooker in Stormers No 2 Joseph Dweba, who is named on the Springboks' standby list, are expected to announce Pollard's inclusion after Sunday's match.

South Africa

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Grant Williams, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox