An electrifying atmosphere was experienced at the O2 Arena, where 2,000 fans gathered to witness the announcement of the British & Irish Lions team. Among the crowd, Northampton Saints jerseys stood out, anticipating a special moment.
The anticipation grew with each name announced, but the true explosion of joy came when Ieuen Evans, the Lions tour manager, pronounced the name of Henry Pollock. The reaction was deafening, as if all of Northampton were present at that moment.
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Despite being a risky bet, those who witnessed Pollock’s performance in Northampton’s victory over Leinster knew that his call-up was inevitable for coach Andy Farrell.
Meteoric Rise
Pollock’s trajectory has been dizzying. On January 21, 2023, in a Northampton Saints match, a member of the team staff predicted the young captain’s impact. Pollock’s energy, aggressiveness, and confidence on the field were evident. In the following 18 months, Pollock stood out in the England U20 team, played minutes in the Gallagher Premiership, and his name resonated in the halls of Twickenham as a future England player.
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In this year’s Six Nations tournament, Pollock started with the under-20 team, but ended up being called up to the first team for a match in Wales, where he scored two tries. After the match, Pollock expressed his hope of being a starter on England’s summer tour, although at that moment, the Lions’ aspirations were still a dream.An “adorable airhead”
Since that match in Wales, “Pollock-mania” has erupted. His standout plays, like the try against the Sale Sharks and his provocative celebration against Castres, went viral.
Pollock has become an idol in Northampton, surpassing his teammates in Instagram followers. His authenticity is undeniable. In a recent podcast, Pollock described himself as a “lovable airhead”.
A source close to the player commented: “If you don’t know him, you want to hate him, but as soon as you get to know him, you fall in love with his energy and personality. He is incredibly competitive in everything.” On the eve of the Lions team announcement, Northampton posted a video on their social media showing the changing room at halftime of a match in Dublin.Pollock, calmly, but with everyone’s attention, reminded of a young Owen Farrell on the 2013 Lions tour.
“Let’s be ultra critical of our discipline, these —— will leave,” Pollock said. “I promise you they’ll start screwing up in 10, 15 minutes of this half.” And so it was.
Now, Farrell hopes Pollock will drive the team on tour. Competition for a spot in the back row has intensified, and Pollock has the opportunity to join the list of players who have broken into the Lions team, such as Jason Robinson, John Bentley, and Martin Johnson.
Coach Farrell stated: “If you’re good enough, you’re old enough. When you see a player performing as he has, age doesn’t matter. People have been waiting to see if he can do it in the big games, or week after week, and there it is for all to see.
“I’ve heard many things about the young people who are emerging: he’s confident, he’s arrogant. This isn’t just about Henry, but about young people in general. But what do we want? Do we want a kid to show his confidence at 23 or 24 instead of at 20?
“It’s about the here and now, isn’t it? If he’s performing against the quality he’s shown, then he’s ready. He’s ready to compete. I think you’ll see the fight in him. I’m sure he’ll push everyone else who didn’t realize he was coming. I’m sure he’ll enjoy it.”
