Steve Borthwick Backs Henry Pollock for England Debut Against Ireland
England head coach Steve Borthwick has delivered a motivational message to Henry Pollock, urging the young talent to express himself freely as he prepares for his first Test start. Pollock has been promoted to the number eight position for Saturday's crucial Guinness Six Nations clash with Ireland at Allianz Stadium, marking a significant milestone in his burgeoning career.
A Rising Star on the Big Stage
Pollock, aged just 21, has rapidly ascended through the ranks, making all seven of his previous England appearances as an impact replacement. His dynamic playing style and confidence have already made him a fan favourite, with Borthwick highlighting his unique ability to energise both teammates and supporters. The coach emphasised that Pollock's promotion aims to inject vitality into England's campaign following a disappointing 31-20 defeat by Scotland last weekend, which dented their title hopes.
Borthwick praised Pollock's character, stating, "Henry's full of energy, full of character and full of beans, and he's already achieved so much in a very short space of time. He's larger than life, and each new level you challenge him with, he seems to thrive." He added that Pollock has the rare talent to bring euphoria to spectators, encouraging him to balance self-expression with the self-sacrifice required in team sports.
Team Adjustments and Strategic Shifts
The selection of Pollock necessitates a reshuffle in the back row, with Ben Earl moving to openside flanker and Tom Curry slotting in at blindside flanker. Sam Underhill and Guy Pepper will provide cover from the bench. Borthwick's faith in Pollock extends beyond his on-field abilities; he noted that the player thrives under pressure, even when opponents, particularly French teams in European competitions, attempt to provoke him.
"He seems to thrive on that, doesn't he? It seems to just keep fuelling more of the energy that is within him. I find it incredible watching him – there are not many players like him. We want superstars in the game," Borthwick remarked, underscoring Pollock's potential to become a standout figure in rugby.
Midfield Changes and Player Support
In addition to the back row adjustments, Borthwick has revised his midfield strategy. The experiment of deploying Tommy Freeman at outside centre has been paused, with Freeman reinstated on the wing. Ollie Lawrence will fill the number 13 jersey for his first Six Nations appearance this season, while Henry Arundell retains his place on the left wing after avoiding a ban for receiving two yellow cards in the defeat to Scotland. Tom Roebuck makes way for Freeman on the right wing.
Borthwick explained that by limiting further changes despite the emphatic loss in Edinburgh, he is offering underperforming players a chance to redeem themselves. "I'm backing them to put in a performance that they'll want to put in after last weekend. If the game had gone the way we wanted, perhaps I would have changed them as well. I want players to feel backed," he said, reinforcing his commitment to squad stability and confidence-building ahead of the pivotal match against Ireland.
