- Henry Pollock is the youngest player in Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions side
- Pollock will start at blindside flanker against an Australia-New Zealand XV
Henry Pollock has been told ‘the sky is the limit’ for his rugby career, as the Northampton and England back-row sensation strives to seize his last chance tomorrow to push for a Lions Test role.
The 20-year-old is the youngest player in Andy Farrell’s British and Irish squad and he will line up at blindside flanker in the potentially dangerous encounter with an Australia-New Zealand Invitational XV at Adelaide Oval. Having been selected as part of a mobile, dynamic back-row combination with England team-mate Ben Earl and Wales captain Jac Morgan, Pollock’s dazzling credentials were emphatically endorsed.
‘Henry is far more talented than I am,’ said Earl – a stand-out star at the last World Cup. ‘Henry is double the player I am and will continue to do great things in the game. The sky’s the limit for him – he can do things that not many players in the world can do, in any position.
‘He’s taken it to (Lions tour) like a duck to water. He’s been great, I’ve been so impressed. I know for a fact that, at 20, I’d have done it very differently and been nowhere near as successful. Let’s just hope we all perform well on Saturday and give Andy something to think about for next weekend.’
A feature of Pollock’s surge to prominence has been his unshakeable belief in his own, exceptional talent and the conviction that he belongs at an exalted level; whether that is inspiring a Saints win over Leinster in Dublin, an England debut in Cardiff or a Lions call-up while still a novice. According to Earl, he is far from alone in having that conviction, it’s just that he makes it more overtly obvious.
‘I’ve not seen anyone that’s been a nervous wreck going out on the pitch,’ said the Saracen. ‘Henry probably shows it in a different way, as we all know, but seeing Jac Morgan before the Argentina game, I would say there’s a man that plays with no fear. Everyone does it differently.
Northampton and England star Henry Pollock has been told ‘the sky is the limit’ for his career
The 20-year-old is the youngest in Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions Australia tour squad
Owen Farrell is set to play his first game the tour after being named as one of the replacements
‘There are many ways to skin a cat. There are many ways to show fearlessness on the pitch. Henry has had opportunities and has done some amazing things off the back of his fearlessness and Jac Morgan has done some unbelievable things.’
It may ultimately come down to an either-or debate among the Lions coaches about whether Earl or Pollock can provide back-row cover on the bench in the opening Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane on July 19. Both can operate at No 8 and at openside, while the younger man is being deployed at blindside for the first time in this last pre-series fixture.
Prior to Pollock’s first Lions start, against Western Force in Perth, Andy Farrell spoke about his desire for the talented tyro to stay true to his daredevil instincts – as highlighted by some eye-catching solo tries last season, including a stunning, chip-and-chase effort against Sale in Salford. Asked if the one-cap wonder is still ‘bouncing around’, the head coach said: ‘He is. He had a bit of a niggle with a calf. It’s something new for him; a young kid. The amount of games and the travel is new to him. But he’s still as lively as ever.
‘Why wouldn’t we allow him to be himself? He was good off the bench (against the Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday). He was nice and explosive. This is a little bit different for him, starting at six. He’s a good lineout forward as well, which is a nice string to his bow.
‘He’s learning the whole time. There are always things that everyone can get better at, especially as a youngster, because you don’t know until you know. But he’s like a sponge with everyone so it can only be a good thing.’
Henry Pollock’s dazzling credentials were emphatically endorsed by Lions team-mate Ben Earl
‘Henry is far more talented than I am,’ said Ben Earl – a stand-out star at the last World Cup
Owen Farrell is primed to make his first appearance of this Lions tour after being named among the replacements for tomorrow’s game. Asked if the former England captain has changed after a one-year stint with Racing 92 in France – before rejoining Saracens – Earl said: ‘He’s the Owen I know.
‘He’s got that extra, added experience of being in a different environment but he’s the same man, he’s still got the same quality. He’s still one of the best, if not the best player I’ve played with, trust me. He’s going to be fine.’
