How the Henry Pollock factor could help England bounce back against Ireland

Pollock will make his first England start as they look to respond from a Six Nations defeat to Scotland SportRugbyRugby UnionHow the Henry Pollock factor could help England bounce back against IrelandPollock will make his first England start as they look to respond from a Six Nations defeat to ScotlandHarry Latham-Coyle Rugby Correspondent Tuesday 17 February 2026 18:00 GMTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoveropen image in galleryHenry Pollock will make his first England start against Ireland (Getty Images)Your support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. 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The England head coach had not long taken the role and had travelled up to Northampton to check in with the club’s contingent within his squad. Before travelling up to Franklin’s Gardens, though, he got a tip about a teenage talent barely out of school but already making waves within the Saints set-up. “I was told when you’re up there you should meet Henry Pollock,” Borthwick recalled after handing the 21-year-old his first England start against Ireland. “He’s a young player, with a huge future ahead of him, he’s not yet played for the first team but you should meet Henry Pollock.” Borthwick heeded the call; there was no shock of blonde hair at that stage, but the youngster still made quite an impression.“I was stood in the car park and this bundle of energy just bounced up to me,” the England boss continued. “Typically when an 18-year-old meets the England head coach for the first time they are usually on the shy and retiring side. But this man is the complete opposite, gregarious, loud, the first thing he said was, ‘how are you, mate?’. I thought, right, you’re different. Wonderfully different, and that’s the kind of character we’ve got in the squad. He’s larger than life, isn’t he? Just wants to do well, wants to express himself.” open image in galleryHenry Pollock will make his first England start against Irealnd (Getty Images)It feels strange, in a way, that Pollock’s profile already greatly exceeds his relative position within the England squad. While he has served a vital role as a bench energiser in the seven appearance since his two-try debut against Wales at the end of last year’s Six Nations, and earned a spot on a British and Irish Lions tour, clamour for the back rower to start has not exactly been deafening. In part, that has been due to a run of 12 consecutive wins snapped by England’s tough evening at Murrayfield; so, too, the form of a cackling pack of hyenas in the back row. But the time has come for a cameo man of a TikTok generation to take on a leading role. Pollock forms part of a new-look trio at the base of the scrum alongside Tom Curry, similarly promoted from the bench, and Ben Earl, who relocates to the openside. Borthwick had always planned a few tweaks, in part due to a tweaked Six Nations schedule that now sees the sides play three Tests back-to-back-to-back. The energy the 21-year-old brings will, in that sense, be valuable, as a sort of human Berocca after England’s heavy night in Edinburgh. RecommendedHenry Pollock to make first England start as Maro Itoje earns 100th cap against IrelandEngland’s Henry Arundell escapes ban after Six Nations red card against ScotlandWhy England’s Calcutta Cup defeat felt so ‘frustrating’ – and raised two key questions“I don’t think he needs any motivation from anything external, which I love – he is so intrinsically driven, he is that character,” Borthwick said. “What you see is exactly what you get. He gets people as a player gets people excited, he gets people jumping up and down with joy. He can bring a euphoria to people that not many players can. “I will challenge him to express himself, be himself and bring what gets people jumping up and down with joy and also bring the self-sacrifice that a team sport needs. Do both. He does it wonderfully well and I am looking forward to seeing him do it from the start.” open image in galleryTom Curry and Henry Pollock will both start against Ireland (Action Images via Reuters)Borthwick also sought to underline Pollock’s grasp of detail, a