Willemse or Pollard? Springbok coach pleased with flyhalf depth as World Cup looms

Whether it's Handre Pollard or Damian Willemse, Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber is pleased with his depth at flyhalf as preparations for the 2023 World Cup in France continue. 

The coach addressed media in Cape Town on Wednesday, providing an update on a 14-man camp that is taking place in the city currently, and it wasn't long before he was asked about his flyhalf situation. 

READ | Springbok spots still up for grabs in World Cup year

While Handre Pollard has been South Africa's first-choice playmaker since before the triumphant 2019 World Cup, an injury last year saw him ruled out for most of the international season. 

That opened the door for Damian Willemse, who stepped up with a string of impressive performances when many doubted him given a lack of game time at flyhalf for both the Boks and the Stormers. 

With Elton Jantjies currently out of the Springbok mix, Nienaber even turned to veteran Frans Steyn for his side's final Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Durban last year. 

Pollard is now back playing for Leicester Tigers in the English Premiership, fully recovered from the knee injury that kept him out for so long. 

So impressive was Willemse in 2022, though, that he has launched himself into the first-choice conversation, even with Pollard back, and Nienaber suddenly has two very promising starting options. 

Manie Libbok toured with the Boks on their year-end tour to Europe and has displayed impressive form for the Stormers in the URC.

Curwin Bosch, too, is in super form for the Sharks in United Rugby Championship, and it all contributes to Nienaber feeling optimistic about his playmaking stocks. 

"Last year, this time, it was a [widely] spoken about topic," Nienaber said from the 11th floor of the Cullinan