Two former All Blacks aren’t buying coach Jacques Nienaber’s explanation around the conspiracy that the Springboks could sneak Handre Pollard to the World Cup.

Nienaber had to shoot down rumours floating around social media that Pollard, making his way back to full fitness after a calf injury, could be a late inclusion in the World Cup squad.

Also read: Nienaber denies Pollard parachute plan

Pollard, along with fellow 2019 Rugby World Cup winners Lukhanyo Am and Lood de Jager, were big omissions from the squad that will travel to France to defend the title.

Former All Blacks wing Jeff Wilson was not satisfied with Nienaber’s explanation.

“I look a them [Pollard and Lukhanyo Am] and anticipate they are going to be part of it,” Wilson said on Sky Sport’s The Breakdown. “I’m not surprised that they are playing these sorts of games. He’ll be ready.

“And they’re saying he’s ready, so he’ll be in that squad.”

Ex-All Black John Kirwan bluntly asked: “So they will just get rid of one of the halfbacks?” to which Wilson responded: “The halfback probably already knows.”

“I don’t understand why you would take nine people over,” Kirwan commented.

“If Pollard is going to recover, just name him in your side.”

Wilson explained that changes can still be made to national squads until the week that the World Cup kicks off in September.

“So what they can do, just so you are aware, these squads are not official squads until they arrive in France the week of the tournament,” Wilson said.

“The most interesting thing he [Nienaber] said was ‘we believe that both will have the potential to be fit and ready to go for the Scotland game’, the opening game.

“So they are in recovery mode but clearly he thinks they are going to be fit and available.

“I’m anticipating that their squad is going to be very different by the time they arrive in France.”