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If rugby made dream years, then Henry Pollock’s face would be on the packaging.
If rugby made dream years, then Henry Pollock’s face would be on the packaging.
Junior World Cup, tick, Northampton Saints debut, tick, England debut, tick, first test tries, tick, Investec Champions Cup final, tick, and now British and Irish Lions tour selection.
The 20-year-old received the biggest cheer at the Dome when he appeared on the screen behind Lions chairman Ieuan Evans during the naming ceremony.
RESPECT OF YOUR PEERS
Head coach Andy Farrell spoke of the players on tour having each other’s respect and Pollock certainly fits that bill.
“If you’re good enough, you’re old enough,” Farrell said at the official squad announcement. “He’s confident, he’s cocky, but what do we want?
“Do we want a kid to show his confidence at 23 to 24 or 20? It’s about the here and now, and he’s ready to compete and you can see the fight in him, and he will push the other players.
“It isn’t just about the last month or so. As a rugby coach you know who’s on the upward curve, but when you see a player, it doesn’t matter what age he is, performing like he has.”
One player who didn’t make the cut though was Farrell’s son Owen Farrell.
WAITING IN THE WINGS
He is slowly returning to fitness at Racing 92, and unlike other eligible players in France, notably Toulouse’s Blair Kinghorn who Farrell confirmed will join the squad once Toulouse are out of the Top 14 playoffs – will be able to make start of the tour such are Racing 92’s travails this season.
However, the door has been left open for him with the recognition that injuries happen and the message to “stay fit and be ready.”
“He’s experienced and would be going on his fourth tour,” Farrell said. “We feel he’s still trying to feel his way back to fitness.
“There’s 38 picked, which leaves a couple of slots open for us down the track. And Owen, like a few other guys would be in that bracket.”