England debutant Henry Pollock has cited the freedom afforded by the senior players within the squad as the key to his breakthrough success at the Principality.
The Northampton Saint also featured for the England U20 side in their respective Six Nations campaign but made his senior debut last weekend as he came off the bench in the 68-14 win over Wales in Cardiff.
Henry Pollock reflects on try-scoring England senior debut
Pollock was one of the most eagerly anticipated debutants this Six Nations, and he certainly lived up to the hype with a tidy brace in his 32-minute stint on the pitch.
“I wanted to come into this environment and be myself,” he said when reflecting on his debut. “Whether that’s giving energy on the pitch or in training. I hope I did that.
“I was just so excited to play, it’s an amazing stadium to win my first cap. I was so grateful and so happy, I was just smiling the whole time.”
He also praised the senior leaders within the squad for their efforts to make him feel at home in the England environment.
“They wanted me to come into the environment and be myself,” he said. “They gave me the freedom to do that.”
“I am so grateful for that. They are such good leaders and world-class players, so to say I played with them is a massive honour.”
This was shown perfectly just mere seconds into his arrival, with prop Ellis Genge telling him to ‘not go into his shell’ before his first scrum.
Pollock predicted debut score
As mentioned above, the back-rower crossed for two of England’s 10 tries in the rout over Wales. The first came in the 66th minute, as he strolled over out wide after a pinpoint George Ford pass.
It was Ford that assisted again for the second, as his deft inside pass sent the back-rower powering through a crack in the defence to cross.
“It’s pretty special,” he said on his two tries. “I was happy to get over the line.”
But, Northampton clubmate Tommy Freeman detailed Pollock had been daring to dream about a debut score and even predicted the manner in which his first try would come!
“He was in my room on Friday night telling me he was going to score his first try on the wing, then he does it!” said Freeman.
“He was doing celebrations in the room, too, showing me what he was going to do.”
Steve Borthwick opens up on England’s next generation
Pollock is also one of several talented stars pushing up through the ranks. Prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour – capable of playing on both sides of the scrum – made his Test debut in the autumn against Japan and was a part of the wider Six Nations squad this campaign, U20s ace Junior Kpoku – currently at Racing 92 – was drafted into senior training during the Six Nations and there remain high hopes for front-rowers Afolabi Fasogbon and Kepu Tuipulotu as well.
“I’m really hopeful with the next group,” Borthwick said. “Before, players have hoped to not make a mistake or do anything wrong.”
“If there’s something I could change and develop with this next generation it’s for them to be energised by the shirt.”
With the British and Irish Lions tour likely to now feature a strong English contingent, there could be a few of these starlets involved in Borthwick’s squad for the Argentina tour.
Outside of that cohort, Henry Arrundell could make a return to the England squad after confirmation of his switch to Bath from Racing, Oscar Beard will likely debut as well after his involvements in the wider Six Nations squad and there could even be call-ups for the likes of Orlando Bailey, Tom Lockett and Greg Fisilau as well.
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/england-sensation-reveals-key-aspect-which-resulted-in-barnstorming-test-debut
