A week can be a long time in the Six Nations, never mind in politics. One minute England are contemplating title showdowns in Paris, the next they face a must-win game against Ireland to remain in contention. A swift riposte to the defeat in Scotland last weekend is required urgently and Steve Borthwick’s team selection reflects the management’s desire for a significant gear change.
It has clearly played straight into the hands of Henry Pollock, whose ambition to start for England is about to be realised after seven caps off the bench. His promotion reflects the need to re-energise all involved in the Murrayfield meltdown, as does the starting return of Tom Curry and Ollie Lawrence, Tommy Freeman’s shift back to the wing and Marcus Smith’s bench resurrection.
There could easily have been further changes. Borthwick’s first instinct is to give his players the benefit of the doubt but even he hesitated after the experience of last Saturday. “There are players in the team this week who are playing because I’m backing them to put in a performance that they’ll want to put in after last week,” the head coach said, slightly ominously.
He did not name names, saying only that he had “had a lot of conversations with players not selected who are very, very disappointed”. Several, presumably, will come roaring into the frame if there is no instant reaction to the 31-20 loss in Edinburgh. While one defeat would not normally prompt an extreme team-sheet makeover, the nature of the Calcutta Cup debacle has clearly shaken England’s coaches wide awake.
If you really want your side to rebound spectacularly who better to whistle up than the ball of energy that is Pollock, the irrepressible Tigger to Borthwick’s less excitable Eeyore. The first time the pair met was at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton when Borthwick paid a visit to meet Saints’ posse of international wannabes. “I was stood in the car park and this bundle of energy just bounced up to me. Typically when an 18-year-old meets the England head coach for the first time they are usually on the shy and retiring side. The first thing he said was: ‘How are you, mate?’ I thought: ‘Right, you’re different.’”
Borthwick was also struck by Pollock’s match-clinching jackal off the bench in a crucial Champions Cup pool game against Munster 13 months ago, never mind the back-rower’s spectacular try – and subsequent “pulse check” celebration – against Leinster in Dublin last May. The net result is that Pollock, now 21, has been picked to wear the No 8 jersey with Ben Earl, England’s most consistent player in this championship to date, shifting to seven. In some respects it changes precious little with Borthwick keen to stick to the blueprint of picking three No 7s. At the same time, though, it gives Pollock a little extra licence to roam.
Out on the wide outside is where English rugby’s young tyro can be an absolute nightmare for unwary defenders, particularly on the shoulder of someone such as Freeman. England lost out aerially against Scotland but this time it takes scant imagination to foresee George Ford hoisting the ball towards Freeman’s wing with Pollock sniffing for any juicy loose balls. There have been few English forwards, aside perhaps from Tom Croft, with Pollock’s searing pace and poacher’s instinct.
Nor will he be afflicted by big game nerves. As he said last month: “I don’t look at a challenge and think ‘what if?’ or ‘what could go wrong?’” It was the same when he went to Leinster last year. “I wasn’t going into the stadium feeling nervous about playing against Josh van der Flier or Jack Conan. I was just so excited to show the world who I am.”
Ireland, naturally, will have a different scenario in mind. Slow down England’s ball, stop them at the gain-line and force them into a slugfest and Pollock and co will have less time and scope to moonlight out wide. Having coached the British & Irish Lions in Australia last year, Andy Farrell has also had a closeup look at several England players and knows exactly where their strengths and weaknesses lie.
That said, Farrell is a massive admirer of Curry and also backed Freeman as a Lions Test starter. He may also wince slightly at the return of the fit-again Lawrence to add more midfield punch and recall what happened the last time Smith played against Ireland at Twickenham.
On that occasion it was Smith’s dramatic late drop-goal which saw England home 23-22 after they had been 12-8 down at the interval. Ireland are supposedly more vulnerable these days but that was the widespread view about Scotland this time last week. While Henry Arundell, having avoided a ban after his Murrayfield red card, will be keen for a less stressful afternoon this time that cannot be guaranteed.
From Borthwick’s perspective, either way, the stage is set for Pollock to bounce England out of their Scottish introspection. “I will challenge him to express himself, be himself and bring what gets people jumping up and down with joy,” said the head coach. As Winnie-the-Pooh’s old mate would say: “The most wonderful thing about Tiggers, is I’m the only one.”