According to an informed source within the Springboks camp, veteran flyhalf Handré Pollard has been thrown into serious doubt for Saturday's highly anticipated second Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town after suffering a late calf injury.
The 32-year-old playmaker, originally elevated to the starting line-up to inject his trademark stability and wet-weather mastery into the No. 10 jersey, reportedly flagged severe discomfort during a closed training session.
The source, speaking on strict condition of anonymity, revealed that medical staff immediately rushed Pollard off the pitch for emergency treatment. While head coach Rassie Erasmus has fiercely guarded team updates ahead of the weekend, the insider warns that rushing the two-time World Cup winner could risk a long-term calf tear, making his participation highly unlikely.
This devastating development threatens to derail South Africa's tactical masterplan to level the series following their 33-16 defeat in Johannesburg last weekend. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who had just been rotated to the bench, or Manie Libbok are set to replace Pollard.
With Pollard's status hanging by a thread, the Springboks find their crucial matchday preparations plunged into absolute chaos.