Bok pivot Pollard denies ‘attitude’ issues after Wallabies loss: ‘We weren’t clinical enough’ | Sport

Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard says there is no issue with the Springboks’ attitude following back-to-back losses against Australia.

The Boks went down 30-17 in Brisbane on Saturday following last Sunday’s 28-26 loss on the Gold Coast, and for the first time in a long time there is real concern starting to develop over the current state of the national team. 

“No, it’s definitely an attitude problem,” Pollard said after the match. 

“Guys pitched up tonight. If every guy misses one tackle, that’s 23 missed tackles.

“It happens, it’s not good enough and it’s not our standard, but there is no attitude problem.”

The Bok defence, usually such a pillar of strength, was poor for the second weekend in a row. 

Pollard was largely pleased with his side’s attacking game, however, but he acknowledged that the execution when it mattered most had let the Boks down. 

“We just weren’t clinical enough,” said Pollard.

“We didn’t capitalise on our opportunities and every time we got into their half or their 22, we just lost the ball.

“The plan was perfect and executed well, it was just those last passes and breakdowns that we didn’t handle today.”

The Boks are next in action when they take on New Zealand on Saturday (09:05, SA time).