Henry Pollock: Jamie George regarding England’s ‘brilliant fool’

Jamie George asserts that his England colleague Henry Pollock is a unique personality in the realm of rugby, stating that the 20-year-old back row is a «truly captivating» individual.

Pollock had a remarkable season last year, which began as a substitute for Northampton and culminated with two tries in his England debut, participation in the Champions Cup final, and selection for the British and Irish Lions.

His vibrant presence on the pitch, enthusiastic celebrations, and unabashed self-confidence have established him as one of the game’s standout players, with his lip-licking affront to New Zealand’s haka and his involvement in a jubilant TikTok dance last month being just the latest in a succession of viral highlights.

His teammate at Saints, Fin Smith, disclosed on Wednesday that Pollock had messaged Lions assistant coach Johnny Sexton photos of Sexton in tears after Ireland’s elimination from the 2023 Rugby World Cup as part of an ongoing joke between the duo during this summer’s tour in Australia.

«Pollock and I shared the funniest dynamic with [Sexton] ever; we just poked fun at him continuously,» Smith relayed on the Saints Show.

«Johnny was fantastic and appreciated having some light-hearted banter with us too.»

«Henry is one of a kind – I have never encountered anyone quite like him,» George remarked on Rugby Union Weekly about Pollock.

«He is utterly authentic, unapologetically himself, and genuinely intriguing – he possesses a vibrant energy that I’ve never seen before.

«He exhibits an extraordinary level of self-assuredness. He enters a room with the intent to dominate, and he’s only 19. It’s insane.

«But he is truly exceptional. He might be a fool, but he’s our fool.»

George is uncertain if Pollock would have been permitted to showcase his character so openly in past England setups.

Eddie Jones, who managed England from 2016 to 2022, has faced criticism from some former players; retired scrum-half Danny Care noted that although Jones produced results, the Australian cultivated a «toxic atmosphere,» where players and staff were perpetually anxious about overstepping boundaries.

«I can’t say,» George said regarding whether Pollock would have blended into previous environments.

«[Current head coach] Steve Borthwick is a very intelligent guy.

«He likely has quiet conversations with Henry from time to time, but one thing I strongly believe in is enjoying your time in camp and feeling like you can truly be yourself.

«There are, of course, boundaries to what you can do, but at the same time, we encourage Henry to embrace his true self, and that’s a hilarious guy we laugh at frequently.

«I have experienced England camps that I have genuinely not appreciated – times when I just wanted to retreat to my room or find any excuse to go home.

«It shouldn’t be that way; it should be the highlight of your life.»

George feels that the welcoming, supportive atmosphere of the current England team parallels that of Saracens during their peak.

Throughout his tenure with Saracens, George has secured six domestic titles and three Champion Cups.

The north London club, which was relegated to the Championship in 2020 for violating salary cap regulations, has concentrated on promoting the optimal team environment in the belief that it translates into enhanced performance.

The three most recent captains of England – the current one Maro Itoje and his predecessors, George and Owen Farrell – along with Borthwick, his assistant Richard Wigglesworth, and head of performance Phil Morrow have all been associated with Saracens.

«Currently, with England, it’s about bonding with one another, enjoying each other’s company, and pushing hard on the pitch,» George remarked.

«During Saracens’ best times, that was our strength. The atmosphere is similar in that regard.»