Montpellier start Pollard, Serfontein

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Springboks Handre Pollard and Jan Serfontein are among the South Africans in Montpellier’s starting lineup for their opening Top 14 clash against Pau on Friday.

Pollard, whose debut season with Montpellier started late due to the 2019 World Cup and ended abruptly because of the Covid-19 pandemic, will look to get his second season with the club off to a good start as they host Pau in Friday’s opening Top 14 fixture.

Friday’s scheduled campaign opener between Stade Francais and Bordeaux-Begles in the French capital was moved to a later date earlier this week as the Parisians asked the LNR to delay the fixture due to a lack of healthy front-rowers who have contracted the illness.

The Springbok flyhalf will be joined by Serfontein in the Montpellier backline, with another Springbok, scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, set to make his debut off the bench after joining Montpellier from English Premiership side Northampton Saints. Also on the bench is hooker Bismarck du Plessis as Montpellier have preferred former France captain Guilhem Guirado in the starting team.

Montpellier will also boast a South African lock pairing in France-capped Paul Willemse and Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg.

Meanwhile, Pau will only have one South African in their matchday 23 as former Sharks and Cheetahs prop Lourens Adriaanse has been named on the bench.

Photo: Getty Images

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SA Rugby magazine