Pollard makes successful Tigers return from injury as Bok call-up beckons

In Bordeaux

Handre Pollard made a successful return to competitive rugby on Friday when he helped his club Leicester Tigers to an 18-14 Premiership Cup win over the Sale Sharks at the Salford City Stadium.

Pollard, who is widely expected to replace the injured Malcolm Marx in the Springbok Rugby World Cup squad, came on in the second half for what was his first bit of competitive rugby since early May.

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Pollard kicked a conversion from Ollie Hassell-Collins' try and helped see out a nervy last few minutes for the Tigers.

Pollard missed the Tigers' 14 May Gallagher Premiership semi-final against the Sharks because of a calf injury that ended up ruling him out of the initial 33-man Rugby World Cup squad.

However, he was on the standby group and traveled with the team on their United Kingdom warm-up leg where the Boks played against Wales (52-16) and New Zealand (35-7).

The Springboks face Romania in their second Rugby World Cup Pool B game at the Stade de Bordeaux on Sunday at 15:00.