Atrás
Henry Pollock marked his first international appearance on the wing with two tries in England’s 45-22 victory over Australia.
Pollock came on in the second half after Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was forced off with an injury at the break after appearing to suffer a knee injury in a hip-drop tackle from Angus Bell.
With his mop of bleach-blond hair – freshly dyed for England’s autumn fixtures – the forward-cum-winger certainly justified Steve Borthwick’s selection gamble to provide wing cover from the bench.
Telegraph Sport breaks down Pollock’s 40-minute cameo on the wing…
A decent first introduction to life on the wing from Pollock. He carries well down his flank and shrugs off Ryan Lonergan, Max Jorgensen and Harry Wilson in the build-up to Jack van Poortvliet’s score. Finally, the crowd has livened up a bit.
Holds his width as Australia look to run the ball out from deep. Pollock rushes up on the defence and his presence is enough for Isaac Henry to hurry his clearance kick, which goes out on the full. Pollock and Seb Atkinson share a high-five.
Pollock strays to the other wing and waits patiently while England’s forwards repeatedly assault Australia’s try-line. Fin Smith shows great awareness and loops a pass over the Australia defence. Tom Wright leaps up to try to make an interception, but it goes horribly wrong. Pollock is there to tidy up. Pouncing on the loose ball, the forward-cum-winger dives over. He points to his chest and mouths to the pitchside cameras, “Me?”
England’s newbie winger follows up with another try, finishing a finely worked backs move with a flourish. Smith finds George Furbank, who in turn pops the ball across to Pollock for an easy finish. In a measure of the 21-year-old’s confidence, he canters over the whitewash holding the ball in one hand, before dotting it down. Cue his “pulse” celebration, to the delight of fans inside Twickenham.
With confidence coursing through him, Marcus Smith attempts to find Pollock, who is again hugging the touchline, with a searching cross-field kick. Pollock safely gathers it and, with a hat-trick on the cards, nutmegs Wright with a grubber through his legs. The move does not lead to a try but a wry smile flashes across the youngster’s face.
For all of his intent in attack, Pollock’s defensive game out on the edges is found wanting as Australia work the ball wide and advance into England’s half. Pollock does not track back quick enough and Henry Slade is left to usher Max Jorgensen into touch to prevent a try. England, though, make a hash of their line-out, with Jeremy Williams latching on to Maro Itoje’s spilt ball to get over the line.