After the naming of South Africa's World Cup squad, there was surprise and despair at the exclusion of Lukhanyo Am, Lood de Jager, and especially Handre Pollard.
Being comfortably the Springboks' best out-half, the loss of Pollard through injury has the potential to be the difference between a pool stage exit and a final appearance.
However, he was named as a standby player and it was implied that he would be fit near to the start of the tournament.
South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber also mentioned that players could do something to 'de-select' themselves, which would lead to Pollard having the opportunity to be called up.
These comments, along with the fact that South Africa have named four scrum-halves, has lead to 'conspiracy' theories that players will purposely get 'injured' or do something to 'de-select' themselves.
Nienaber has since addressed and rubbished these notions:
There are a lot of rumours flying around about the squad, about this plot that we're going to take four scrum-halves and we're going to put Handre in.
But if you have a heart, how do you pick a guy and then tell him to fake an injury and get the other guy in? We would never do that."
I think one must start explaining by first saying that, if there are no injuries, the whole 33 will go and come back.
Will Handre Pollard Be In South Africa's World Cup Squad
7 April 2023; Handré Pollard of Leicester Tigers during the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final match between Leinster and Leicester Tigers at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
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Nienaber also gave more detailed updates on the injury statuses of Pollard and Am.
"The thing about Handre is that he's not injured now, and he trained with us for two sessions, but he's still on his way back from a fitness perspective.
"We've got six years of data on our players in terms of what it takes to get them ready to give us an opportunity to win a game on Saturday.
"There are particular metrics to judge that and Handre is at about 20 to 25 percent of the loads, having done an attack and defence session.
"It's like having to prepare for the Comrades in three weeks, but only running 10kms in a week. You might walk and make it, but there will be luck involved.
"Lukhanyo is still injured, and he'll follow return-to-play protocols, but Pollard has recovered and he's at the protocols where we can press him.
"We can push him to 80 percent, but it increases the risk of being injured in the next three to four weeks."
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