Pollard set for Springboks recall after Jantjies gamble misfires

South Africa are likely to recall first choice fly-half Handre Pollard in place of misfiring Elton Jantjies for the second Test against Wales on Saturday.

The Springboks will take a 1-0 lead into the match in Bloemfontein after an added-time Damian Willemse penalty snatched a 32-29 first Test victory this weekend.

World champions South Africa were woeful in the first half and trailed by 15 points at half-time before a personnel change turned the tide in Pretoria.

Jantjies was taken off during the break and veteran Willie le Roux came on at full-back, allowing Willemse to move to fly-half, where he impressed.

After the close shave against opponents eight places below top-ranked South Africa, coach Jacques Nienaber indirectly criticised Jantjies when he said "our kicking game was not functioning".

"It is probably the one reason why we struggled to get out of our half (in the first half). It is probably the one thing we will have to improve."

Pollard, who kicked 22 points in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final triumph over England in Japan, missed much of the first Test build-up due to French Top 14 commitments with champions Montpellier.

But handing the No. 10 shirt to Jantjies was a gamble as he had not played for Japanese club Docomo Red Hurricanes since December due to an injury and was arrested two months ago after an airline incident.

Jantjies was detained at the main airport in Johannesburg after allegedly causing malicious damage to property during a flight from Dubai, but the case was later provisionally withdrawn.

Another Springbok star set to return for the potentially series-clinching second international is 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year and flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit.

Du Toit suffered a serious shoulder injury