England coach under pressure to put Pollock into starting lineup

England coach Steve Borthwick is under increasing pressure to include dynamic flanker Henry Pollock in the starting lineup for their upcoming Nations Championship match against Argentina. Pollock, a 21-year-old Northampton player, has become a focal point of discussion following his explosive performance against Fiji.

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I don't know what we are waiting for. Stop messing about and put him in. He has to start next week.

Pollock came on as a substitute and scored a remarkable hat-trick, showcasing impressive speed and skill to help seal a dominant 73-8 victory over Fiji. This win ended England's five-game losing streak and marked another high-impact display from the young talent, who has been identified as a future star. Despite earning 12 caps, Pollock has started only once, averaging around 30 minutes per game, leading many to urge Borthwick to give him a more prominent role as the 2027 World Cup approaches.

Former England players have publicly advocated for Pollock's inclusion. Ex-wing Chris Ashton stated, "I don't know what we are waiting for. Stop messing about and put him in. He has to start next week." Former scrumhalf Danny Care echoed this sentiment, calling Pollock "the real deal" and "box office."

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He really is the real deal. This kid is box office.

However, Borthwick has remained non-committal when questioned about Pollock's starting status for the match in Santiago del Estero. He acknowledged Pollock's impact off the bench but stressed the strength of the team's back-row options. "Henry is an outstanding player, but we’ve got many real top-quality back-row forwards," Borthwick told reporters. He also emphasized the importance of the team creating opportunities for players to score, rather than focusing solely on individual stars, though he admitted wanting "superstars in our game."

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He did a pretty good job coming off the bench, didn't he? Pretty good impact.

Pollock's burgeoning reputation extends beyond England, having been instrumental in Northampton's recent Premiership success. His confident demeanor and celebratory style have drawn attention, and he has even faced taunts from crowds and stadium announcers. Despite the external pressure and praise, Borthwick appears focused on a team-centric approach to player selection.

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Henry is an outstanding player, but we’ve got many real top-quality back-row forwards.