‘Inevitable’ Henry Pollock given All Blacks incentive by predecessor who warns England star of ‘true great’ pitfalls

Tom Wood, player of the match the last time England beat New Zealand at Twickenham, says there is a “bloody big target” on the back of Henry Pollock – but also an “inevitability” he can handle it.

Pollock starts on the bench against the All Blacks at Allianz Stadium on Saturday with England fans still buzzing about the solo try he scored which broke Australia a fortnight ago.

Wood, whose footsteps the 20-year old followed into first the Northampton, then England back-row, admits he was “slow to jump on the bandwagon” when the peroxide flanker broke through last season.

Praise for Pollock

But now a man who captained his country, winning 50 caps, played in two World Cups, shared in two Six Nations titles and skippered Saints to a Premiership-European title double in 2014, has a startling confession.

“I’m fairly glad he’s come a year or two after me – I’m glad I wasn’t competing directly with him. The truth is, I think he’s made for this current era. He’s made for this environment.”

Wood adds: “I always think it’s great when someone does it at England 18s or Under-20 level, but let’s see if he can do it in men’s rugby. Let’s see if he can do it in the Premiership in Europe, internationally.

“Every time one of those questions has been posed of Henry, he’s answered it emphatically, blown it out of the water.

“There’s kind of an inevitability about him. He comes off the England bench on his debut and scores two tries, he stars for Saints to get them to a Champions Cup final, he earns Lions selection and doesn’t look out of place.

“Each time he plays you feel he’s probably going to score. There’s like an inevitability about it. He’s got everything going for him at the moment, he’s absolutely flying and I love to see it.

“He’s a very, very different sort of personality to me, but mostly in a good way, I’d say!”

What Pollock has not done is play against either of the world’s top two ranked nations. South Africa do not have a fixture with England this autumn so the All Blacks this weekend provides the litmus test.

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The question, with Wallace Sititi, World Rugby’s breakthrough player of 2024, named on the bench specifically to counter Pollock’s ‘Pom Squad’ arrival, is whether he can continue his rise against the men in black.

Wood, who wore the No.6 jersey when England put a record score on New Zealand in 2012, says: “These are the games where you make your name. You get a win against at the All Blacks and no-one can take that away from you.

“You get a try in a game like this, a match-winning tackle or turnover: they’re the moments that get repeated every year.

“You can only give Henry credit for what he’s achieved so far. Who else has burst onto the scene and done anything like that? His stats are phenomenal.

“Second-season syndrome is real. A phenomenal first season does kind of catch up with you a little bit. You become a marked man.

“Everybody knows what you’re capable of the following year. They don’t give you the same breathing space. You’ve probably humiliated them the year before, so they’re looking to get one back.

“They’re not going to be complacent in the tackle, they’re not going to give you any freedom or an inch of space.

“Can you still do it in that environment when you’re the name they’re talking about all week in their analysis and their preparation and you’re the target that’s being put for their big tacklers and their enforcers to come after all game? That’s the question.

“So far, he’s managed it, he’s been phenomenal, but it’s a tough old game and can he sustain it? To be a true great, you’ve got to do it for five, ten years. You’ve got to be at the top for a period of time.

Wood challenge

“Doing it for a season or so is amazing, but you don’t go down as one of the greats of all time after one season.”

Asked if there is a danger of getting ahead of himself, given Pollock has yet to start a Test match for his country, Wood replies: “That’s always a danger and also, when you act the way he does, you do paint a bloody big target on your back.

“As much as everyone loves to build you up, they love to see you fall as well. So Henry has to be mindful of that.

“I can understand why opposition players and fans love to hate him and will be putting a big target on him. But as long as he’s playing for Saints and England, I’m a big fan.”

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