Borthwick added: “I will challenge him to express himself, to be himself, while bringing the personal sacrifice that a team sport needs. Let him do both. He does it wonderfully well and I can’t wait to see him from the start.” The change in alignment sees Ben Earl move to the open-side flanker position, with Tom Curry coming in as blind-side flanker. Sam Underhill and Guy Pepper join the bench. Pollock, acclaimed by English fans, is considered a “villain” by rival teams, especially the French, who seek to provoke him during European matches. Borthwick commented: “He seems to feed off that, doesn’t he? It seems that fuels even more the energy he has inside. I find it incredible to see him: there are not many players like him. We want superstars in the game.” In addition, Borthwick has reshuffled the midfield, dropping Tommy Freeman’s trial in the center and relocating him to the wing. Ollie Lawrence will occupy the number 13 center position in his first Six Nations appearance, while Henry Arundell continues on the left wing. Tom Roebuck gives way to Freeman on the right wing. Arundell will start the game after avoiding a suspension for the two yellow cards received in the defeat against Scotland. Borthwick has made it clear that, by not making any more changes in response to the defeat in Edinburgh, he is giving the players who did not perform to their full potential a second chance. “I trust that they will offer the performance they want after last weekend,” he stated. “If the match had gone as we wanted, perhaps I would have changed them too. I want the players to feel supported.”“Henry is full of energy, character and enthusiasm, and has already achieved a lot in a very short time. He is larger than life and seems to thrive on every new challenge. As a player, he excites people, makes them jump for joy. He can generate a euphoria that few players can achieve”.
Steve Borthwick
