Handré Pollard almost in tears as Mzwandile Stick reveals heartbreaking Springboks injury blow

Handré Pollard nearly broke down in tears when he informed the Springboks about his calf injury during training for their upcoming match against the All Blacks in Cape Town. Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick disclosed on Friday that Pollard injured himself during practice on Wednesday before informing management of his condition, leading to his withdrawal from the game.

The announcement was made on Friday morning, before Pollard's captaincy run took place at DHL Stadium. In his absence, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu took over as the starting No 10, while Manie Libbok was brought in from the bench. Stick also noted that Cheslin Kolbe returned to the squad after being initially left out. The injury has been a difficult blow for Pollard and the team, as he is a seasoned leader who has been in top shape and worked hard, even when not in the match squad.

Stick expressed his sympathy for Pollard, acknowledging that the player's honesty about his feelings was tough to witness. With the South African team already having lost to the All Blacks 33-16 in Johannesburg, Stick believes the Boks have prepared adequately to address the situation. He stressed the importance of capitalizing on opportunities against the All Blacks and adapting to the situation, with Cape Town providing an ideal location to turn the tide.