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Springbok kicking woes: In last 35 Tests, only seven perfect returns
Statistics show that Handre Pollard has a higher strike rate than Manie Libbok, but the Boks have only had a handful of perfect kicking days since winning the World Cup in 2019.
Bok flyhalf Handre Pollard prepares for a conversion attempt during the Rugby Championship match against New Zealand in Townsville, Australia in 2021. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images
The last time the Springboks had a 100% kicking return in a Test match they smashed the All Blacks 35-7, with the under-fire Manie Libbok slotting all five conversions.
In that match at Twickenham, the Boks didn’t have a penalty attempt at all over the 80 minutes.
The Boks’ kicking has been under a microscope of late, with first-choice kicker Libbok being singled out for a number of misses in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup and at the tournament itself.
While Libbok’s kicking for the Boks can best be described as up-and-down, finishing a Test with a 100% kicking return has been rare for the Boks in recent times — irrespective of the man fulfilling the kicking duties.
Perfect days off the tee
Before the five out of five conversions slotted against the All Blacks in the World Cup warm-up match, the last time the Boks registered a 100% return was on the 2022 end of year tour, against France in Marseille in November last year when the home team won 30-26.
Libbok played off the bench that day, with the kicking duties handled by Damian Willemse, Cheslin Kolbe and Faf de Klerk. Between them they slotted all six kicks at goal — four penalties and two conversions. That is 12 Tests ago.
Two Tests before that, the Boks also recorded a 100% kicking return, against Argentina in Durban when the Boks won 38-21, and on that occasion Frans Steyn slotted three conversions and one penalty.
The last time the Boks enjoyed a string of Test matches with all the kicks going over was in the early stages of last season when Handre Pollard was still fit and guiding the Boks at No 10.
In the third Test against Wales in Cape Town Pollard converted three penalties and three conversions (30-14), in the Test against the All Blacks in Mbombela, he slotted three penalties and two conversions (26-10) and the next week in Joburg, also against the All Blacks, in a 23-35 loss, he converted three penalties and two conversions.
In only one other match between the 2019 World Cup final and last week’s Test against Ireland have the Boks managed a 100% strike rate at the posts: in the 29-10 win against Argentina in Gqeberha in 2021, with Pollard knocking over five penalties and two conversions.
Thus, in the 35 Tests the Boks have played since the 2019 World Cup final win, they have managed a perfect kicking record in just seven (winning five and losing two).
Success rates
Fit-again Pollard, who is set to be back in the Bok team for Sunday’s World Cup match against Tonga, has played in just 17 of those 35 Tests because of injury keeping him out of the action, with the Boks winning nine.
He has taken 72 penalty kicks and converted 58 of them, and attempted 27 conversions with 15 successful, for a success rate of 73%.
Libbok, in his 11 Tests, has converted nine penalties (from 20) and 21 conversions (from 27) for a 67% success rate.
Besides Libbok, Pollard, Willemse, Frans Steyn, De Klerk and Kolbe, the other players to have been asked to kick to goal since the 2019 World Cup include Morne Steyn (Lions series), Elton Jantjies and Jaden Hendrikse.
