TOMMY FREEMAN revealed two-try tyro Henry Pollock predicted he would get on the scoresheet the night before this crushing win against Wales.
Steve Borthwick’s England got a glimpse of the future in Cardiff on Saturday and Northampton flanker Pollock-20, will play a huge part.
Making his Test debut as a 48th-minute replacement, Pollock scored two of England’s 10 tries as they finally put an opponent on the canvas and kept them there.
Pollock, described as a pest in training by skipper Maro Itoje, is a certainty to tour with England this summer and could even be involved in the Lions conversation.
His Saints team-mate Freeman believes the sky is the limit for the confident youngster, who is already a Junior World Cup winner.
Freeman, the first Englishman to score tries in five rounds of the Six Nations, said: “He’s a joke. He’s unbelievable. He brings the sort of energy like you’ve never seen before for a 20-year-old.
“I remember my first game I was shaking in the corner, all nervous. But this guy, nothing fazes him. On Friday night he was in my room telling me about he was going to get his first try on the wing — and then he gets it.
“He was doing the try celebrations as well in the room, showing me what he was going to do.
“But that’s the type of guy he is and fair play to him, he backs it up and he’s got a big career ahead of him. You never really know if you want a 20-yearold coming off the bench, and you’re not sure about him first time.
“But that kid’s pretty special and he’ll continue to be, I’m sure.”
Pollock’s energetic performance helped England keep their foot on the gas when in previous games they have let opponents off the hook.
England threw away winning positions against Australia and New Zealand in the autumn but they were ruthless here for the whole 80 minutes. Freeman ad...
Steve Borthwick’s England got a glimpse of the future in Cardiff on Saturday and Northampton flanker Pollock-20, will play a huge part.
Making his Test debut as a 48th-minute replacement, Pollock scored two of England’s 10 tries as they finally put an opponent on the canvas and kept them there.
Pollock, described as a pest in training by skipper Maro Itoje, is a certainty to tour with England this summer and could even be involved in the Lions conversation.
His Saints team-mate Freeman believes the sky is the limit for the confident youngster, who is already a Junior World Cup winner.
Freeman, the first Englishman to score tries in five rounds of the Six Nations, said: “He’s a joke. He’s unbelievable. He brings the sort of energy like you’ve never seen before for a 20-year-old.
“I remember my first game I was shaking in the corner, all nervous. But this guy, nothing fazes him. On Friday night he was in my room telling me about he was going to get his first try on the wing — and then he gets it.
“He was doing the try celebrations as well in the room, showing me what he was going to do.
“But that’s the type of guy he is and fair play to him, he backs it up and he’s got a big career ahead of him. You never really know if you want a 20-yearold coming off the bench, and you’re not sure about him first time.
“But that kid’s pretty special and he’ll continue to be, I’m sure.”
Pollock’s energetic performance helped England keep their foot on the gas when in previous games they have let opponents off the hook.
England threw away winning positions against Australia and New Zealand in the autumn but they were ruthless here for the whole 80 minutes. Freeman ad...
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Daily Express (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 17, 2025