Here is a prediction, which appears more feasible with every passing week – Henry Pollock will end up playing for the Lions this summer, at the age of 20, even if he isn’t picked to start with.
In the year of a tour, everyone is on the look-out for so-called bolters and Northampton’s back-row sensation is hurtling into the reckoning as a classic of the genre.
He is young, he only has one Test cap, he has just emerged at senior level, he hasn’t had sufficient time to build a cast-iron case with consistent performances over months and years, but he’s just too good and unique to ignore.
Pollock did more than his fair share of hurtling last Friday night in Salford as the rookie Saint scored a stunning solo try against Sale and the footage spread like the wildfire, within minutes.
He took a pass, surged through a gap, fended and swerved past Tom Curry and Luke Cowan-Dickie to go clear, chipped over Gus Warr, won the chase to regather ahead of a posse of defenders and scored. Cue bedlam – and louder calls for him to be fast-tracked by Lions head coach Andy Farrell.
What counts against the boy wonder is that he is in an area of formidable depth throughout the home nations. Frankly, England alone have three back row’s-worth of pedigree flankers, especially opensides these days, so there is a long queue.
Henry Pollock will play for the Lions this summer, I reckon – he is a sensational back-row talent
The 20-year-old flanker scored a brilliant solo try against Sale and is too unique to ignore
There is stiff competition, but the conviction is growing that Northampton have a rare talent
But Pollock isn’t one to wait in line patiently. He’s in a hurry and even if he misses out on a place in the initial squad when it is named on May 8, he can still force his way in.
England play a France XV at Twickenham on June 21, the day after the Lions’ pre-tour clash with Argentina in Dublin. If he’s available to Steve Borthwick and plays, that is another chance to impress in an international environment, after his George Ford-conjured brace of tries on Test debut against Wales.
Then, England play Argentina in Buenos Aires and San Juan, on July 12 and 19. Meanwhile, the Lions series against the Wallabies doesn’t start until the 26th, in Brisbane.
There are always injuries and a raft of reinforcements are summoned. It happens on every tour. If Farrell snr decides he needs an injection of X-factor, once the British and Irish crusade is underway, Pollock is just the sort of point-of-difference asset who could come into contention. If feels as if every time he plays, the conviction grows that this is a rare talent.
None of the more established back-rowers on the radar of the Lions coaches could score a try like he did at Sale.
Wales captain Jac Morgan is mobile and possesses skilful hands and feet, but not as much pace as Pollock. Ben Earl is capable of explosive acceleration but has not demonstrated the ability to deliver chip-and-chase tries too often. The Curry twins, Josh van der Flier and Rory Darge are magnificent players, but long-distance solo strikes are not a core part of their vast repertoires.
The try Pollock scored was an abnormal act of individual brilliance for a player in his position, or any position for that matter. It was also part of another all-court display which highlighted that he is not easing into the higher reaches of the sport as a deferential tyro; he is determined to blaze a trail and make a name for himself, rapidly. He is not fazed by stellar reputations. He is fired-up and intense, stroppy and energetic and assertive, beyond his years.
‘He is different gravy,’ said Saints and England team-mate, Tommy Freeman, in response to Pollock’s try, following an athletic break and overhead assist for an earlier try.
None of the other back-rowers on the Lions radar would score a try like his against Sale
Tommy Freeman has hailed his Northampton and England team-mate as ‘different gravy’
Phil Dowson says that Pollock has the ‘ability to change games’ in a glowing endorsement
Ben Kay has claimed that Pollock ‘has got everything’ and is part of the Lions conversation
Andy Farrell hinted he’ll bring experience on the Lions tour, but the Pollock clamour is growing
Northampton’s director of rugby, Phil Dowson, addressed the Lions hype, adding: ‘If Andy Farrell is looking for someone to make a difference, then Henry is that sort of character. Henry’s got the ability to change games and do things others can’t. His try was pretty special and he’s got huge potential.’
Former World Cup-winning England lock Ben Kay, in his role as a match-day pundit on TNT Sports, said of Pollock in the aftermath of his try: ‘He’s got everything. He is staking his (Lions) claim. We were all thinking it is too early. It is too early, but we have seen players go before, at the beginning of their international journey. He is definitely in the conversation.’
In fact, it is reasonable to wonder whether Pollock would even count as a ‘bolter’ – an outsider who makes a late run into the selection mix – if he has already forced his way on to the long list of 75 tour contenders being considered by Farrell and his assistants.
That is not a far-fetched thought. And in a Lions context, there are various precedents for this sort; the most relevant being Eric Miller’s feat in winning a Test cap in 1997, just four months after his debut for Ireland.
Farrell will bring a pragmatic dimension to his squad selection and has already hinted at the vital importance of pedigree and experience on a Lions tour. Pollock can’t tick those boxes. But every time he plays, the noise grows – and it could reverberate all the way to Australia this summer.
Christian Wade chases historic milestone
Christian Wade’s latest hat-trick – on behalf of Gloucester – means he now has seven of them in the Premiership; more than anyone else. It also means he is bearing down on a landmark which would provide a minor consolation for someone who has been harshly stranded in the category of one-cap wonder.
The 33-year-old wing made a solitary Test appearance for England in 2013 and couldn’t repeat the feat, despite his prolific exploits over many subsequent years. If Steve Borthwick was a soppy, sentimental type, he could consider taking Wade to Argentina this summer, to allow him a late-career day or two in the sun, but that is a non-starter idea.
Instead, the deadly finisher will set his sights on breaking the league try-scoring record, which he would have done long ago if he hadn’t taken four years out to pursue a dream of playing in the NFL. Wade is on 89 now, after his latest treble.
The way Gloucester are playing, he could even threaten Chris Ashton’s all-time mark of 101 by the end of this season. Whenever he breaks the record, as is surely inevitable, it will be a fitting personal milestone for a fine player and a popular character.
Christian Wade has now scored 89 hat-tricks – just 14 short of Chris Ashton’s all-time record
RFU must back up words with actions
The RFU have beaten off the rebellion and restored a modicum of order at the top of English rugby after yet another damaging period of in-fighting, but this is no time to light cigars and congratulate each other. There is an almighty mess to clear up and improvements to make.
Nobody in the upper echelons of the union can just expect an outbreak of unity and harmony; that would be naïve in the extreme. Up and down the country, there are grounds for concern and complaint about a number of pressing issues, from falling participation numbers to financial support for the community game and the chronic lack of a footprint in state schools.
The RFU must resolve to expand and maintain the recent, modest but encouraging up-turn in communication and transparency, rather than just retreating behind their parapets once more. They have ventured out to meet people and be seen as more approachable and that cannot be a one-off, emergency gesture.
In the months ahead, all the brave talk of governance reform and devolution of power will be closely scrutinised. There have been plenty of worthy words, now for the positive actions.
The RFU must continue with their renewed spirit of transparency – and back up their talk of reform and devolution with action
English sides in for tough Champions Cup tests
The Champions Cup is back next weekend and now that the largely mundane procession of the pool stage is over, there should be more spice as the competition enters the knock-out phase.
But the round of 16 doesn’t contain many fixtures which promise thunderous, epic contests, unfortunately. Some English sides are in danger of coming to significant harm away from home; Harlequins against Leinster in Dublin and Sale in Toulouse certainly, while Saracens could be up against it if Maro Itoje has to be rested from their line-up in Toulon.
Perhaps the East Midlands contingent can fly the flag, as Northampton will be desperate to make up for surrendering their Premiership title so early when they host Clermont, and Leicester will fancy their chances in Glasgow. Bordeaux will surely dispatch Ulster and Castres should further enhance the French faction in the quarter-finals.
This column’s unreliable crystal ball is showing wins for Northampton, Castres, Glasgow, La Rochelle, Leinster, Toulon, Bordeaux and Toulouse. That would set up the following ties in the last eight; Bordeaux v La Rochelle, Toulon v Toulouse, Leinster v Glasgow and Northampton v Castres.
Northampton will be desperate to fly the Premiership flag in the Champions Cup, but it could be tough for Harlequins, Sale, and Saracens
Sarries look set to rest their key stars against Toulon including England captain Maro Itoje
England are the dominant force in women’s rugby and are storming to a seventh consecutive Six nations crown – the sport needs more jeopardy
Last Word
England’s women won 67-12 against Wales on Saturday, which closely mirrored the 68-14 victory earned by their male counterparts in the same Principality Stadium a fortnight earlier.
But while, for the men, that was an eye-catching, stand-out result, it was a matter of utter routine for the dominant English women. The scale of their superiority against all-comers, certainly in this part of the world, is wildly predictable.
England are storming towards a seventh consecutive Six Nations title and any sense of competitive edge and tension is on hold until the finale against France, as per usual. The event’s marquee match takes place at Twickenham on April 26 and all those who care about the wider development of the women’s game will hope that it is not a glaring mismatch.
There are already enough of those. Interest levels are clearly rising, as was evident from a record crowd of more than 21,000 in Cardiff, but until there is far greater investment and professionalism among the other home nations, England will continue to rule the roost all too comfortably.
The World Cup here in the autumn could have a transformative impact on women’s rugby, but only if there is proper jeopardy before the semi-final stage – so it doesn’t just meander towards an inevitable shoot-out between Canada, France and New Zealand, to try to deny England their rightful prize.
As for the Six Nations… the trophy isn’t going anywhere. Again.
