England have defended Henry Pollock after the divisive back-row was caught on video making dismissive gestures towards Argentina supporters from the team bus in Buenos Aires, just before the two nations faced off in the Rugby World Cup semi-final. The 21-year-old Northampton flanker was filmed shushing local fans and making other gestures as the bus pulled away, but head coach Steve Borthwick insisted the behaviour was 'good natured'.
Video Shows Pollock Goading Argentina Fans
A video circulating on social media showed Pollock sat on England's team bus on Wednesday, responding to goading from Argentine football fans. One fan even hit the team bus as it passed through the streets. Borthwick, who once again left Pollock out of the starting side, played down the incident. 'I think it was good natured and came from a good place,' said Borthwick. 'We want character in our game and Henry's full of character. We've got some players who wouldn't do that and then you've got Henry who would go and do that. Argentina are a very proud nation, as we are. Our players are very proud of our football and rugby teams. So I think it was good natured.'
Relations Tense After Argentina's Victory
Following Argentina's dramatic victory over England in Atlanta on Wednesday night, relations between the two nations are tense. Members of England's rugby squad in Buenos Aires have been warned not to venture outside of their hotel. The incident involving Pollock has added to the friction, but Borthwick remained supportive of his player.
Pollock Disappointed to Miss Starting Spot
Borthwick also admitted that Pollock was disappointed to once again miss out on a starting place, despite scoring a hat-trick off the bench against Fiji the previous week. 'We've had a number of conversations now because he's definitely expressed his desire to start,' said Borthwick. 'He was disappointed not to be starting this week because he's competitive and he wants to be in that starting back row. He trained in a manner that showed his disappointment. But to win games at this level, it's 80 minutes and the impact you have off the bench can be huge. When there's fatigue in the game and there's space, his skill set can really be shown. So I value the people who finish the game as equally as the people who start.'
Pollock's Test Career So Far
Pollock, who made his Test debut in last year's Six Nations, has only started one Test for England, making do with bench appearances in the remainder of his caps. Despite his limited starting opportunities, he has made a significant impact off the bench, including his hat-trick against Fiji.
