Frans backs ‘next Lukhanyo Am’ to shine

Cheetahs coach Frans Steyn has picked a player at outside centre for their opening SA Cup match against Boland who he believes has the potential to emulate a Springbok star.

Raegan Oranje has played scrumhalf and wing for the Cheetahs since arriving in Bloemfontein from Griquas, but Steyn insists the 28-year-old has what it takes to excel in the No 13 jersey.

“He’s big and strong. He’s fast and communicates on defence. He has never made a wrong decision in our [training] drills.

“He doesn’t bother me there [at outside centre], he looks good,” Steyn added. “Maybe Raegan is the next Lukhanyo Am, how do we know?”

Only six of the players who started for the Cheetahs in their last Challenge Cup clash against Perpignan are in the XV for Saturday’s match in Wellington, due to injuries and one player (scrumhalf Ruben de Haas) out on loan.

CHEETAHS – 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Raegan Oranje, 12 Jooste Nel, 11 Litha Nkula, 10 George Lourens, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Neels Volschenk, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Hencus van Wyk.

Bench: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Dux Manyana, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Andisa Ntsila, 21 Daniel Maartens, 22 Jandré Nel, 23 Banie Britz.

Round 1 fixtures

7 March

Pumas vs Eagles (5pm, Nelspruit)

8 March

Leopards vs Griquas (3pm, Potchefstroom)

Valke vs Eastern Province (3pm, Kempton Park)

Border Bulldogs vs Griffons (3pm, Mdantsane)

Boland Cavaliers vs Cheetahs (3pm, Wellington)

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Handre Poland’s sign R15 millions contract with SA club.

Highly sought after Springboks fly-half Handre Pollard is set to further his professional career where it started after reportedly signing a contract to return to the Bulls.

Pollard is currently plying his trade with Premiership outfit Leicester Tigers but his services were in demand and there was plenty of speculation over his future with a Japanese club expected to be his next destination.

Bidding war for Pollard’s services

There were up to 10 clubs reportedly involved in a bidding war to sign Pollard but according to News24, the 30-year-old is set to return to the Bulls when his contract with Leicester expires at the end of June.

Pollard is widely regarded as one of the best fly-halves in the game and he was the Springboks‘ starting number 10 when they won back-to-back Rugby World Cup finals in Japan in 2019 and France in 2023.

Signing the talented playmaker will boost the Bulls’ fly-half stocks as they have had a mini-crisis in that position in recent months with first choice number 10 Johan Goosen currently sidelined with a knee injury.

Meanwhile, veteran Springboks full-back Willie le Roux has worn the Bulls number 10 jersey in recent matches in the United Rugby Championship as back-up fly-halves Boeta Chamberlain and Jaco van der Walt have not impressed when in action.

After representing the South African Schools side in 2012, Pollard caught the eye later that year when he was South Africa’s first choice fly-half when they beat their arch rivals New Zealand in the final of the U20 World Championship in Cape Town.

He went on to represent his country at two more U20 World Championships in France in 2013 and New Zealand in 2014.

After representing the Bulls at provincial level in South Africa in 2013, he made his Super Rugby debut against the Sharks the following year and after initially making most of his appearances off the bench, he was soon a regular in the starting XV.

Made his Springboks debut in 2014

Pollard was then called up to the Springboks squad in 2014 and made his Test debut against Scotland in Port Elizabeth that year, scoring 13 points in the Boks’ 55-6 victory.

In 2015, he was South Africa’s first choice fly-half at the Rugby World Cup in England and at the end of that year he joined Japanese club NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Osaka on a three-month deal before returning to the Bulls ahead of their 2016 Super Rugby campaign.

The playmaker continued his career at the Bulls until 2019 before heading to Top 14 outfit Montpellier where he had a three-year stint before joining the Tigers in 2022.

Despite being in the twilight of his career, Pollard is still highly rated in South Africa with his accurate place-kicking proving crucial in the Boks’ triumphant 2019 and 2023 World Cup campaigns.

Pollard remains a vital part of the squad but he understands that his role has changed slightly due to the emergence of some talented young 10s in recent years.

While the 30-year-old started a number of matches for his country in 2024, he was not an automatic pick for the big games as he split it with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok.