LIVE! Follow coverage of England\u2019s semi-final against the Springboks<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nPollard had initially been omitted from Jacques Nienaber\u2019s 33-player squad for this tournament due to concerns over his fitness.<\/p>\n
But having returned to action for Leicester Tigers in the Premiership Rugby Cup, an injury to hooker Malcolm Marx allowed the fly half to be called in to bolster the playmaking options.<\/p>\n
Libbok, who possesses a more creative attacking game, had remained ahead in the pecking order and was backed to start the semi-final.<\/p>\n
But with both sides putting boot to ball regularly in a nip-and-tuck contest, head coach Nienaber and director of rugby Rassie Erasmus made a bold early call.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/10\/21\/20\/RUGBYU%20World%20Cup%20England%2020472123.jpg\")
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South Africa’s Manie Libbok is replaced against England <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s not entirely responsible,\u201d Bryan Habana said on ITV. <\/p>\n
\u201cHis kicks have not gone to plan. You feel for a guy putting his body on the line.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former England number eight Lawrence Dallaglio added on the decision: \u201cThe coach has been ruthless because kicking is such a big part of this game.”<\/p>\n
Pollard\u2019s extra experience and kicking prowess were deemed likely to be key, with the fly half almost immediately knocking through three points from the tee when England infringed.<\/p>\n
The substitution might just have lifted Steve Borthwick\u2019s side, though, seemingly forcing their opponents to stray from their strategy so early in the contest. <\/p>\n
Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"South Africa’s fly-half Manie Libbok (C) is seen on the bench after he was substituted Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/p>\n