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Henry Pollock is one of the biggest names in the English rugby after a meteoric rise over the last year - Getty Images/David Rogers
Henry Pollock has been playing on fast forward for so long that it is no wonder that last year’s semi-final between Northampton and Leinster appears a bit of a blur, although there are other reasons why the 20-year-old flanker’s memory is slightly hazy.
Twelve months ago he had made more appearances for Bedford Blues than he had for Northampton Saints as he took his place in the stands at Croke Park to watch the English champions fall just short of a stirring comeback in a 20-17 defeat.
The idea that he would be returning to Dublin 12 months later to take on Leinster as a fully fledged England international who is in the mix for Lions selection, and has developed his own cult fan club to boot, would seem to have been the product of a dodgy Guinness.
“Definitely not,” Pollock said, of being able to foresee his meteoric rise. “I probably was too busy [thinking] about where the next pint was going to be. The last 12 months have come really fast and I am very grateful for all the opportunities.”
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Pollock and Fin Smith (left) have helped guide Northampton to the last four of Europe’s premier competition - Getty Images/Shaun Botterill
Pollock’s day in Dublin last year began with a 5am flight and four hours later a group of around 10 players outside the match-day squad were established in the mixer of Temple Bar. “We were there all day and then went to watch the game, then we went in the changing rooms afterwards with the squad,” Pollock said “Then we went out in Dublin after, I think we left the club at three or four to get the taxi to the airport. The flight was at half-five, six, back to England. Then Sunday was pretty much a write-off and back in here Monday.
“There’s a couple of stories I wouldn’t tell you. But there were about 10 who went and did that, and it was one of the best weekends. It was last minute, one of those weekends you didn’t plan for and it was cool. Going to Croke Park as well was special, watching the boys doing their thing was cool, and I was kind of in awe of it all, to be honest.”
There will be no sense of awe and slightly less alcohol on Saturday afternoon, rather a heightened sense of anticipation of testing himself against Josh van der Flier, who he describes as one of the best opensides ever, and the rest of Leinster’s galacticos. In normal circumstances, director of rugby Phil Dowson might be mindful of the risks of throwing in a 20-year-old on to such a big stage. In Pollock’s case, Dowson believes the brighter the lights the more Pollock shines.
“Oh, he’s mad for it, yeah,” Dowson said. “That’s what’s great. Often, if not always, you’d have 18-19-year-olds who might be overawed whereas he actually feeds off that and that’s just because he’s a slightly different character. We watched a (documentary) on baseball, on the 2004 Red Sox and it said, ‘no occasion is too big for them’ and that’s what I feel about Henry Pollock.”
The theme of the documentary was about the Red Sox coming from behind to take down the all-conquering New York Yankees to capture their first World Series title since 1918. Clearly, the message resonated with Pollock. “I’d say I don’t want to go in my shell, I want to go out there and be myself,” Pollock said. “I am looking forward to it and it should be class. The confident aspect, that you are never really out of it.”
‘There needs to be more characters that kids and fans can warm to’
At some stage, there will come a point where Pollock cannot walk the walk but as his recent nomination as Champions Cup Player of the Year demonstrates, that time has not come yet. And certainly Pollock will keep talking the talk, whether that is getting in the faces of established internationals or breaking out “Ash splash” celebrations no matter how much it rankles certain people.
“I am just being myself, I guess,” Pollock said. “If you like it, you like it; if not then I guess don’t watch it. If you look at football there’s lots of that, and lots of characters and big role models that people want to buy tickets and go and watch, and buy shirts from. Rugby is at a junction here where they need to do something new and there need to be more characters in the game that kids or fans can warm to. From that aspect, yes.”
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Pollock has risen quickly to become a fully fledged England international - AP/Alastair Grant
It is these types of antics not to mention his all-action performances that have earned him a considerable cult following with supporters turning up in his trademark black head tape, not that Pollock is overly impressed. “I don’t know why,” Pollock said. “I bet that’s so uncomfortable.”
The only point at which Pollock has had his confidence knocked in the past 12 months was when he was called up for England’s training squad for the Six Nations only to be dropped back into the Under-20s. This led to a respectful but robust exchange of views with head coach Steve Borthwick. “I was there for about a week and a half so that was a cool experience,” Pollock said. “Once you get a taste of that level you don’t want to go back to the Under-20s. That conversation I had with Steve was probably the toughest one I have had with him about my development and what’s best for me at that time in that period. Going back to the Under-20s, I managed to flip it on its head and say I have known these boys since 16-17 when I came into the system.”
Lo and behold, Pollock comes back into the senior set-up and scores two tries on his debut against Wales in the Six Nations. This is precisely why Dowson has no qualms about throwing him in the deep end on Saturday. “He doesn’t need protecting,” Dowson said. “I’m trying to protect everybody else.”
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