Pollard – Setpieces will be key
"The side that wants it the most is going to win it."
South African Under-20 national rugby team captain Handré Pollard believes setpieces will play a crucial role during Friday’s 2014 IRB Junior World Championship final against England.
The 20-year-old was part of the Junior Springbok side which won the title at home in 2012 and he believes the team which works the hardest on the day will walk away with this year’s crown.
“I think at the end of the day it is going to be the side that wants it the most that is going to win it,” Pollard said. “Set piece is the biggest thing going into the final.
“I know how 2012 was won, we had 17 lineouts and we won all 17 of them. It is something you can’t go without in a final, the set piece.
“It is also the conversion rate you have, you have got to get down there and get points, whether it is three, five or seven – just get points whenever you go down to the opposition’s half.”
Pollard also praised his side for the fighting spirit they have shown throughout the tournament; more especially in the semi-finals where they had to come back from behind late to beat host nation New Zealand.
“The whole tournament we have been down a bit first half and we have come to grow into the belief that even though there is two minutes on the clock we can win this game,” he said. “That is something I love about our side.
“It is something you don’t coach; it is just something that comes with the team and with the character of a side. For us it is a big bonus, it’s a big positive that we can keep believing – it doesn’t matter what the score is until the last minute.
“Hopefully we aren’t behind going into the last minute though!”
While South Africa won the title at home in 2012, England will be looking to defend the trophy they lifted in France last year.
