Pollard after return to action: 'It was easy for me to trust the knee'

Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard is happy how his knee responded after making his comeback for French club Montpellier in their 19-10 European Challenge Cup semi-final win over Bath on Saturday.  

The former Bulls stalwart, who had been sidelined since September after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament, came off the bench in the 58th minute and kicked a penalty to steer Montpellier to the final.

With the British & Irish Lions series looming, Springbok fans will also be breathing a sigh of relief after Pollard confirmed that his knee was in tip-top shape.

"It was unbelievably nice to be back on the field and it was easy for me to trust the knee," Pollard told Netwerk24.

"I knew the knee is strong. I underwent rigorous testing and have been training for four weeks with the team... so there was no doubt."

Montpellier, the 2016 Challenge Cup winners, will face Leicester in the final on 21 May at Twickenham, where up to 10 000 fans will be present.

The European Challenge Cup the second-tier competition for European clubs behind the European Champions Cup.

Other South Africans in the South Africans in the Montpellier line-up included Johan Goosen at outside centre, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg at flank and Paul Willemse at lock.

Hooker Bismarck du Plessis and scrumhalf Cobus Reinach were also on the bench.