England's Newest Rugby Sensation
Henry Pollock, the 20-year-old Northampton Saints flanker, is being hailed as English rugby's newest superstar following a spectacular autumn campaign. The young back-row forward has made such a significant impact from the bench that England legend James Haskell has delivered an extraordinary verdict on his talents.
Haskell, speaking via Heart Bingo to the Mirror, didn't hold back in his praise: "I love him. I think he's great for the game. I think he's really talented. He's got this vibe about him. If you threw him out the window, he'd land on a bed made of winning lottery tickets at the moment."
A Meteoric Rise to Prominence
Pollock's ascent has been nothing short of remarkable. Just twelve months ago, he was representing England's Under-20s during the Six Nations. By the tournament's conclusion, he found himself making a senior debut off the bench against Wales in Cardiff, where he announced his arrival with two tries in a demolition of the Welsh side.
His club form with Northampton Saints has been equally impressive. Last season, he played a crucial role in their journey to the European Champions Cup final, scoring a stunning solo try in their semi-final victory over Leinster. His performances were so compelling that days later, he was selected for the British and Irish Lions squad that toured Australia, becoming the youngest player on tour at just 20 years old.
The 'Pom Squad' Impact and Viral Moments
This autumn, Pollock has become an integral part of what's being called England's 'Pom Squad' - the replacement bench that has consistently closed out games with authority. His contributions have been decisive across multiple matches:
- Coming off the bench against Australia to score and seal a dominant victory
- Helping finish off Fiji the following week
- Playing a key role in England's historic win over New Zealand
The All Blacks victory at Twickenham was particularly significant, marking England's first win against New Zealand at home in 13 years and their tenth consecutive victory. Pollock created the final try for Tom Roebuck with an opportunistic kick through, while his intense reaction to the Haka went viral across social media platforms.
While his try-scoring celebrations and youthful energy have divided some opinions, Pollock continues to march to the beat of his own drum - and the results speak for themselves.
International Recognition and What's Next
Pollock's exceptional performances have earned him a nomination for World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year. He finds himself on a shortlist that includes New Zealand's Fabian Holland, South Africa's Ethan Hooker, and Australia's Joseph Sua'ali'i. Should he win the award, announced this Saturday, he would join Maro Itoje as only the second Englishman to receive the honour since Itoje won it in 2016.
England now prepares to complete their impressive autumn campaign this Sunday when they host Argentina at Twickenham. The Pumas demonstrated their quality with a comeback win over Scotland at Murrayfield, setting up what promises to be a challenging finale. A victory would see England achieve their first four-game autumn series clean sweep in nine years.
For Henry Pollock, it represents another opportunity to demonstrate why James Haskell and many others believe he possesses that rare 'winning lottery ticket' quality that could define English rugby for years to come.
