Six Nations 2026: ‘Generational’ Henry Pollock ready for first England start against England

Henry Pollock has never been short on confidence. He also knows how to leave an impression.

England head coach Steve Borthwick speaks to Rugby Football Union director of performance Conor O’Shea «four or five times a week» about talent coming through the system.

A blond-haired schoolboy flanker sprinting from his own 22 to score a solo try for Northampton Saints Under-18s will not go unmissed.

However, it was a colourful post-match interview that first brought Pollock’s personality to screens, as the youngster chose not to hold back after England Under-18s were beaten by South Africa in 2022.

Pollock’s potty mouth was different and unexpected. The talent was always undeniable, but the personality drew attention.

When visiting some of Northampton’s England players, Borthwick was told to meet the then teenager, who was not long out of school.

«Normally, when an 18-year-old meets the England head coach for the first time and you don’t know each other at all, they are reasonably shy and reserved at that point in time. He was the complete opposite,» Borthwick told BBC Rugby Union Weekly.

«He bounded up to me and introduced himself, and I think his words were ‘how are you, mate?’ I thought ‘this guy is wonderfully different, he is an incredible character, full of confidence’.»

After a meteoric rise, Saturday’s match against Ireland – which England likely need to win to keep their Six Nations title hopes alive – will be Pollock’s first Test start.

Despite it being England captain Maro Itoje’s 100th cap, many headlines have been around the inclusion of the 21-year-old tyro, who played for the British and Irish Lions last year after an extraordinary breakthrough season.

Such has been Pollock’s impact that already children at rugby clubs across England have been spotted running around with black head tape on, scoring tries and imitating his pulse-checking celebration.

Northampton’s club shop does a roaring trade in sales of black head tape, which Pollock wears to protect his ears.

But his influence goes further than that.

Former Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll came home from covering last Saturday’s game against Italy in Dublin to find his son dressed as Pollock.

Bordeaux Begles players mocked Pollock, who ended up in a final-whistle scuffle, in their post-match celebrations after winning last season’s Champions Cup final.

«Pollock is an outstanding rugby player and I think he is brilliant for the game,» former Scotland scrum-half Andy Nicol told Radio 5 Live.

«My daughters are 25 and 22 and they don’t know who Tom Curry or Ben Earl are. They know who Henry Pollock is.»

In less than six months, he went from being an England Under-20 player to playing for the British and Irish Lions.

«He is a great character and I got on well with him on the Lions tour in a weird kind of way,» said assistant coach Johnny Sexton, who received a tongue-in-cheek 40th birthday message on tour off Pollock.

A number of solo tries – one which cut open Leinster in a Champions Cup semi-final win and a remarkable chip-and-chase against Sale Sharks – showed Pollock has the speed and finishing prowess of a Test winger.

That ability to turn a game on its head, with a moment of magic, was missing for England in their defeat by Scotland last weekend.

Former Ireland wing Shane Horgan added on BBC 5 Live: «He does things that few others can, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a spectacular moment by him [against Ireland] that galvanises England’s performance.

«You’ve got an extremely highly skilled, massively talented individual who has enormous self-confidence, and that confidence has not been blunted by anything yet.

«That is when you get those generational players. They have all the components but also this bullet-proof confidence, which means they can just keep on delivering throughout their career.»

Borthwick has leaned into Pollock’s energy, deploying him as an impact replacement for all seven of his England caps.

Former Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray played against Pollock in Europe last season and could not believe he has yet to start for England.

«He has been ripping it up for so long,» Murray told BBC Rugby Union Weekly. «He is perceived very well in my book.

«It was something very different when he came on the scene – too loud and brash – but what makes that OK in my sporting world is that he backs it up all the time.

«People talk about Pollock being so good off the bench with his dynamism, power and energy.

«Watch him for Northampton – he goes from the first minute to the 80th minute and does not look tired. I think he is a real danger.»

Pollock, who can play across the back row, also enjoys playing on the edge, adding that he plays best when «aggressive and confrontational».

His love-hate relationship with fans in France continued this season in Bordeaux as he was booed in the Champions Cup final rematch, where he scored twice in defeat.

«Nobody boos rubbish players, nobody boos somebody they don’t actually respect,» Northampton boss Phil Dowson said.

Impressive performances off the bench against Scotland and Wales have earned him a start at number eight, a position where he has scored six tries in his past five starts for Saints.

Flanker Tom Curry, who started all three Lions Tests, has recently been used as a replacement in a back-row combination with Pollock.

Getting one of England’s big-game players on from the start would also have helped pave the way for Pollock, with Ben Earl’s speed at open-side flanker also useful in trying to out-run Ireland.

«Henry Pollock is always tremendously excited. That is his general state. He lives at a level of excitement,» Borthwick added.

«The supporters see the joy he plays the game with and they are excited by him.»

The last time Pollock faced Irish opposition he played the entire 80 minutes and delivered a performance that accelerated his career and profile.

A similar performance on Saturday may do the same, but this time as a Test starter.