Henry Pollock must replicate the energy and abrasiveness that have fuelled his meteoric rise so far, says head coach Andy Farrell as the 20-year-old starts for the British and Irish Lions for the first time.
Pollock will pack down at number eight as the Lions take on Western Force in their first tour game on Australian soil on Saturday.
“You want people with confidence and belief because that helps when he takes the field,” said head coach Andy Farrell.
“You don’t want a kid to go under the radar and in three weeks’ time just settle into a side. You pick him for a reason.
“He’s a Lion just like the eldest player. There’s no difference whatsoever. His character is infectious to everyone. He’s a great lad.”
Pollock’s try celebrations, most famously checking his pulse after streaking past Sam Prendergast in Northampton’s Champions Cup semi-final upset of Leinster, have been part of his appeal, and Farrell has given him permission to continue with his celebration routines.
“He’s certainly not overawed. I mean, I love that. You want kids to be themselves and he’s just being himself. He doesn’t know any different,” said Farrell.
“He’s hungry to learn and that’s perfect because you can see that he’s got a real point of difference.
“He sees things quickly and acts upon that. His line running is pretty good. His awareness of space, how sharp he is in his mind and his athletic abilities are up there with the other lads in the squad.
“He’s hungry to make a difference the whole time. But he also understands what parts of his game he needs to improve. He’s got a great attitude.”
Before the start of this season, Pollock’s experience of senior top-flight rugby was limited to half an hour off the bench in a Premiership loss to Leicester.
But his barnstorming performances for Northampton this season earned him the league’s breakthrough of the season award, a nomination for the Champions Cup player of the year and elevation to the England senior squad, for whom he scored two tries on his debut against Wales in March.
He would be the youngest Test Lion of the professional era if he appears in the series against Australia.
