England coach Steve Borthwick has backed Henry Pollock to make an impact against the Springboks at Ellis Park, even if the young sensation will have to do it from the bench. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.
While Pollock won’t start, Borthwick made it clear the tyro remains central to England’s plans.
Explaining his decision to opt for a 6-2 bench split, the England coach highlighted Pollock as one of several impact players capable of lifting the tempo and intensity late in the contest.
“I want players coming off the bench who can inject real energy and pace into the game,” said Borthwick at a media briefing in Johannesburg. “You can see that with players like Guy Pepper, Henry Pollock, Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith.”
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In a revealing insight into Pollock’s versatility, Borthwick added that the youngster has even spent time training on the wing during the tour, underlining the coaching staff’s belief that he can cover multiple scenarios if required.
“He’s an awesome character, we love having him, he adds enormous energy,” said the coach. “He brings joy, energy, enthusiasm and personality, and he’s a wonderful rugby player. He has an effervescent nature, and is a character we all love. Each time you challenge him, he embraces the challenge.”
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The irony, of course, is that one of England’s most talked-about players arrives at Ellis Park as a replacement rather than a starter.
Asked about a potential “welcome party”, Borthwick was nonplussed.
“The last couple of years he emerged … we’ve all been through rugby, they try to nullify that. Henry seems to thrive. We want more personalities like that.”
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Borthwick, however, was careful not to place additional pressure on the youngster ahead of what promises to be one of the toughest assignments in world rugby.
The England coach repeatedly stressed his admiration for the Springboks, describing them as “the benchmark in world rugby” and praising the team built by Rassie Erasmus.
He acknowledged the immense challenge posed by the world champions’ power game, particularly at scrum time, while also recognising their remarkable fitness and intensity.
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England’s approach, he said, will not be centred on trying to match the Springboks’ reputation for physicality alone.
“We’ll need to score tries against a very, very good South Africa.”
And when the contest inevitably opens up in the final quarter, don’t be surprised if Pollock , despite starting the afternoon in tracksuit bottoms, becomes one of England’s biggest weapons.
Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
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England coach Steve Borthwick has backed Henry Pollock to make an impact against the Springboks at Ellis Park.
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