‘If you’re good enough, you’re old enough’ – Andy Farrell explains Henry Pollock’s British and Irish Lions selection
Henry Pollock in action for Northampton Saints with an inset of Andy Farrell
British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell believes Henry Pollock is ready to make a difference on this year’s tour to Australia.
The 20-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise already this season after making his England debut in the Six Nations, but the Pollock hype has reached fever-pitch after he was drafted into Farrell’s 38-man squad.
‘If you’re good enough, you’re old enough’
Pollock, who began the Six Nations campaign with the England U20s side, has seen his name skyrocket up the Lions pecking order in recent weeks, but after his display against Leinster, it felt almost inevitable he would earn a call-up to Farrell’s touring party.
One thing that has been thrown at him is his age and inexperience. The Northampton starlet has just one Test cap to his name and has only made 27 senior appearances for the Saints too, but Farrell has put his full support behind the back-rower.
“It’s not just about the last month or so,” he said. “As a rugby coach, you look at who’s on the upward curve and when you see a player, doesn’t matter what age, who’s performing like he has; and people have been waiting to see whether he can do it in the big games or do it consistently, it’s there for all to see.
He added: “If you’re good enough, you’re old enough. I’ve heard a lot of stuff, not just about Pollock but all youngsters, that they’re confident and cocky; but what do we want? Do we want a kid to show his confidence at 23, 24 or at 20? It’s about the here and now. If he’s performing against the quality that he has been doing, then he’s ready.
“You can see the fight in him, and I’m sure he’ll push all the others who didn’t realise he was coming. He should relish that.”
Farrell also pointed out his desire to make big impacts in games was a key reason behind his selection.
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“I wouldn’t say certain, but I didn’t need convincing either. I’ve seen him live a couple of times, and I like what I see. He’s always trying to make a difference and there’s an energy and bounce about him, and that’s how you tend to have big moments in his game,” he said.
“That’s what I like to see within his game, and plenty of others in the squad as well.”
Pollock faces an almighty battle to break into the Test side, however, with Jac Morgan, Tom Curry, Ben Earl and Josh van der Flier all options to start at flanker.
