Rugby-Pollard gamble pays off for South Africa

Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2023 - Semi Final - England v South Africa - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - October 21, 2023 South Africa's Handre Pollard scores a penalty kick REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

PARIS (Reuters) - An injury to hooker Malcolm Marx early in the Rugby World Cup threatened a major blow to South Africa’s hopes of retaining the title but the opportunity to call up Handre Pollard was a gamble that paid off handsomely in Saturday’s semi-final.

The 29-year-old kicked the winning penalty as the Springboks inched past England with a come-from-behind 16-15 victory to set up a final against New Zealand at the Stade de France.