Henry Pollock can wind up who he likes as long as he backs it up

Yahoo

11-07-2025

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There will come a time when the media does not focus on the performances of Henry Pollock as the first thing on their agenda, but that time is not now, and it might be so for some time. Pollock is box office in an era when that means a lot for rugby; like it or loathe it, that is the case. Anything that gets media attention can have an upside for the sport, though the same will not always be true for Pollock.It is quite a simple conundrum for me: Pollock can do what he likes around the game provided he backs it up on the pitch. With that will come a lot of extraneous stuff that has not a lot to do with performance and it is here that experienced and level-headed assessments need to be made by coaches and managers.Pollock's efforts from an unfamiliar No 8 position for the Lions against Western Force showed eye-catching glimpses of sublime skill and confidence. Two rapid line breaks and a chip-and-take stood out but Pollock's overall presence around the breakdown was evident and it will force him into the thoughts of Andy Farrell as a genuine possibility to be in the first Test squad. Although it is right to note the Force are the weakest of the Australian provincial sides, Pollock matched better-known back rowers like Josh van der Flier for intensity and speed; something that few predicted when the Lions' squad was first announced.
Henry Pollock sets up a BRILLIANT Lions try! 🦁⚡️ pic.twitter.com/1JqFMglaRH
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) June 28, 2025
Pollock's battle for a Test squad start is complicated by the fact he has now shown the wherewithal to play at this level in more than one back-row position. Choosing him at No 8 for a Test match would mean the Lions probably having to pick a blindside that is used to being the third line-out option. This would mean shuffling the cards in a way that Farrell might not want to do, given all that needs to be sorted out before the first Test. On the other hand, it is an option to keep opponents guessing, which is all part of the build-up.
In such a dominant win you must look at the fact that a yellow card for Pollock was an unnecessary lapse of discipline. It did not matter in the context of that game but would matter greatly in a Test match where margins are far tighter. Along with a high penalty count, you can add a general discomfort around restarts which made up another uneven performance for the forwards as a whole; a marked improvement is needed in the next four games.
What Farrell will also be viewing closely is the fact that no centre partnership has yet clicked on the way he wants but he can balance against that the fact that his options on the wing and in the back three have expanded, with notable performances from Mack Hansen, Elliot Daly and the constantly impressive James Lowe. When you add the claims of Tommy Freeman, Duhan van de Merwe, and the soon-to-appear Blair Kinghorn you are talking about a very effective back three, if the right combination can be found.
As of yet, the Lions' set-piece has been serviceable without being dominant, particularly in the scrum where a lot more can be demanded. What might be of equal, if not greater, import, is the way in which the breakdown might be interpreted by referee Ben O'Keeffe. Last Saturday, O'Keeffe gave the ball-carrier a little more leeway in the time allowed to present the ball in the tackle and a little less favour for the defenders challenging over the ball.
If that is applied in the first Test, which O'Keeffe is due to referee, it will require the Lions forwards to be more selective about which ball they do and do not compete for on the floor. This is a small but significant factor and in close games will matter a lot – penalties kill momentum and yellow cards do the same at an average cost of seven points against the offending team.The challenges should increase significantly over the forthcoming games and Farrell will be looking for players to learn these lessons as well as showcase their talents. The strength of the Lions' bench in any game against non-Test opposition should be enough to secure a win, and they should expect to go unbeaten from this point into the first Test. All will become clearer over the next fortnight, but it remains to be seen whether Farrell waits to declare his full hand at any point before that squad is announced.Whatever the case, expect the Henry Pollock show to roll on. So, roll up and see the show – it will not be dull, however long it lasts.