Debutant Handre Pollard shines as Springboks slam Scotland

Pollard, the world junior play of the year picked up 13 points and played a central role in the South African attack as they walloped Scotland 55-6 on Saturday.

Handre Pollard, left, shown during South Africa's Test victory over Scotland on Saturday. Steve Haag / Gallo Images / Getty Images / JUne 28, 2014

South Africa ran out easy 55-6 winners against Scotland in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, helped by an outstanding performance from Springbok debutant No 10 Handre Pollard.

This single Test between the two teams, who will be Group B opponents in the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England, was never really a contest, with South Africa leading from the third minute and running in eight tries.

Scotland were left without a try and with coach Vern Cotter’s 100 per cent record in tatters after tour wins against the United States, Canada and Argentina.

Both sides had looked to use the fixture to blood new players ahead of the tournament, but it was South Africa’s young guns who stole the show.

Relative newcomers Lwazi Mvovo, Marcell Coetzee and Lood de Jager picked up two tries apiece and rapidly-rising Springbok star fly-half Pollard shone on his Test debut.

Pollard, recently named world junior player of the year and who led South Africa to runners-up spot in the under-20 World Championship in New Zealand, picked up 13 points and was instrumental in most of South Africa’s many attacks.

The Springboks opened the scoring just three minutes in, with flanker Coetzee driving over from short range to touch down under the posts. Pollard sloted over the conversion.

Scotland stand-off Duncan Weir responded quickly with a penalty from just inside the South African half, but the South Africans were over the line again within minutes.

The Springboks secured line-out possession inside the Scotland 22, and went from wing to wing before in-form full back Willie le Roux glided over. Pollard made the tricky touchline conversion.

The try went unconverted but South Africa led 19-3 with less than 20 minutes on the clock.

Scotland were lucky not to be reduced to 14 men when debutant number eight Adam Ashe and hooker Ross Ford both hit Le Roux late and high after he dinked a kick over their heads and tried to run on to it.

Shortly before the whistle, Weir cut the deficit with a successful penalty but, at 19-6, the Scots at half-time never looked like getting back into the game.

South Africa began the second half by keeping the scoreboard ticking over, when Pollard drove home a penalty from around his own halfway line.

On 50 minutes Scotland were reduced to 14 men when Tim Swinson was shown the yellow card for illegally taking a man out at the ruck.

A pick-and-drive from the line-out resulted in Coetzee again driving over the line for his second try, with Pollard adding the extras.

The Springboks took further advantage of the extra man minutes later with JP Pietersen going over in the corner.

Shortly after the hour mark Mvovo got his second try with a brilliant solo effort, collecting the ball out wide and sprinting 60 metres downfield to go over in the corner. Pollard made the touchline conversion.

Lood de Jager then pushed over the line for the Springboks’ seventh try after South Africa picked the ball up in the loose thanks to some scrappy defending. Pollard collected his fifth conversion.

Close to the death De Jager drove past two Scottish tackles in short range to pick up his second try and complete the rout.

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