No additional pressure on me - Pollard

Springbok and Bulls flyhalf Handre Pollard will be back in action in a Super Rugby clash for the first time since 29 May 2016 when he leads a Springbok-laden Bulls side out in their Super Rugby opener against the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday. Kick-off is at 7.30pm.

 Pollard sustained a season-ending injury against the Brumbies in Canberra, which also ruled him out of the Springbok set-up for the entire year.

 Just two weeks away from his 23rd birthday, Pollard takes over the captaincy reins in the absence of Adriaan Strauss.

 He is no stranger to the leadership role, having captained at age group level. He led the SA Under-20 side in 2014, with his form earning him a nomination in the IRB Young Player of the Year category.

 Clearly Pollard is being groomed for bigger things and the Bulls could probably be regarded as the logical progression to the Springbok captains armband in the not too distant future.

 But right now Pollard can't wait to get back into action against traditional foes, the Stormers.

 "It was a long 2016 for me and it wasn't an easy road back. But I feel confident for the new season, body feels good and the captaincy is just something extra," says Pollard, who demonstrates a maturity well beyond his years.

 "I'm not going to put too much pressure on myself. It may take a couple of weeks to really get back into the swing of things, but for now, my focus is on this week and getting off to a winning start," he added.

 Pollard says he refuses to be weighed down by the pressure of captaincy.

 "Not at all. I won't change the way I play and the captaincy will take care of itself if I continue to perform well on the field. I want to lead by example and that won't happen if I don't play the way I know how to play."

 Springbok lock and former SA Rugby Player of the Year, Lood de Jager, will make his Super Rugby debut for the Bulls.

 De Jager, who gained 40 Super Rugby caps for the Cheetahs, has been named along five Springboks test players in the starting team, with Jesse Kriel, Jamba Ulengo, Pollard, Rudy Paige, and Jacques Potgieter. 

 De Jager is one of four new arrivals at Loftus. Edgar Marutlulle (Kings) and Jacobie Adriaanse (Lions) could make their respective Bulls debuts off the bench, while Ruan Steenkamp is a graduate from the Blue Bulls.

Strauss, Arno Botha, Jan Serfontein and Roelof Smit remain on the injury list.

The team (with Super rugby caps and points) is:

Jesse Kriel* (31, 10), Jamba Ulengo* (10, 25), Dries Swanepoel (7, 10), Burger Odendaal (18, 10), Travis Ismaiel (17, 30), Handre Pollard* (c, 25, 243), Rudy Paige* (34, 0), Hanro Liebenberg (8, 5), Jacques Potgieter* (56, 35), Nick de Jager (5,5), RG Snyman**(12, 10), Lood de Jager* (40, 5), Trevor Nyakane* (70, 15), Jaco Visagie (8, 0), Pierre Schoeman (9, 0). Replacements: Edgar Marutlelle (25, 20), Jacobie Adriaanse (26, 0), Lizo Gqoboka** (12, 0), Jason Jenkins (13, 5), Ruan Steenkamp (0, 0), Piet van Zyl* (68, 55), Tian Schoeman (22, 73), Warrick Gelant (4, 5).

 *Capped Springbok

 **Springbok tourist

 General Stats:

The Vodacom Bulls won the last encounter between the teams, winning 17-13 at Loftus Versfeld in 2016. In the opening match, at DHL Newlands, the DHL Stormers won 33-9.

Overall, they played 27 times, the DHL Stormers winning 15 and the Vodacom Bulls 11, with one draw. The average score is 19-21 to the Vodacom Bulls though.

 Vodacom Bulls match records:

 Most points in a match: Morne Steyn 35 (Bulls v Stormers, 2005)

 Most conversions: Derick Hougaard 11 (Bulls v Reds, 2007)

 Most penalty goals: Derick Hougaard 8 (Bulls v Crusaders, 2007)

 Most drop goals: Morne Steyn 4 (Bulls v Crusaders, 2009)