Henry Pollock has been warned. And it’s a familiar face delivering the message.
Eddie Jones expects his fellow Australians to have a ‘love-hate’ relationship with the back-row sensation, who at 20 was the youngest player named in Andy Farrell’s 38-man British and Irish Lions squad, after the England newcomer and Northampton flanker made himself impossible to ignore with a series of dazzling performances.
Pollock has electrified the sport with his pace and skill, his combative streak and ultra-confident nature, but the Wallabies are sure to have plans for him. His rising profile will also attract the attention of the rugby public Down Under.
Japan head coach Jones has followed the progress of the X-factor prodigy with fascination from afar. The man who was in charge of England for seven years, until the end of 2022, admires his talent and his brash persona, telling Mail Sport: ‘He definitely has something different about him.
‘One of the things I was always taught about selecting was to pick players who have things you can’t coach. He has things you can’t coach. He’s a good support player, he’s got speed and he’s got that raw, untapped energy.
‘He’s exactly like (Maro) Itoje was when he first came in and the difference Itoje made to England at that time was enormous. Pollock, if he gets into the game, has the ability to bring that impact to a team. It’s not made-up; it’s him and the way he plays. Those sort of players are worth two players.’
Former England head coach Eddie Jones admires Henry Pollock’s talent and his brash persona
Pollock has electrified rugby with his pace, skill, combative streak and ultra-confident nature
The Northampton flanker made himself impossible to ignore with a series of fine performances
Asked if he likes the one-cap wonder’s assertive attitude and what Australians are likely to make of it, Jones added: ‘I love it! Those players are ones you hate coaching against, but you know that when they’re in your team you love them because they bring something special.
‘Australians will have that love-hate relationship with him. They love the way he goes about his work but they will probably target him a bit because of the way he plays.’
Last Thursday, when the Lions squad was announced, Itoje had become a shoo-in for the captaincy – having done such a sterling job in the leadership role with England, after being installed by Steve Borthwick in January. It was all a far cry from 2021, when Jones claimed in a book the lock was ‘too inward-looking’ to become a Test skipper.
Having long since changed his tune about the 30-year-old’s credentials, he responded to his Lions appointment by saying: ‘He did a really good job in the Six Nations and he definitely outshone a few other captains in that period. He is now a mature player, he’s played nearly 100 Tests, it’s a great honour for him and I’m really pleased for him.
‘The thing I like is that since becoming captain of England, he has been more of himself again as a player. All players go through it; they come in, they’re raw and they do things they’re good at.
‘Then a lot of players flatten out a bit and people start to question them, but then as they carry on with their careers they tend to find themselves again and Maro is just starting to find his game again. This year in the Six Nations, that was the best I’ve seen Itoje play for three or four years.’
Jones has recognised Itoje’s wider outlook and elevated sense of responsibility, having regarded him previously as more of a narrowly focused, supremely gifted individual. He believes the acclaimed Saracen has the credentials to handle a momentous sporting assignment, perhaps followed one day by higher callings.
‘The Lions tour is the greatest challenge for any modern-day captain,’ he said. ‘It is the longest tour and you’ve got a diverse squad by nature, because of nationality. Your job is to keep them together. The Test team gets divided from the non-Test team and you have to keep them together. I think Maro is ready for that now.
In 2021 Jones claimed in a book that Maro Itoje was ‘too inward-looking’ to be a Test skipper
But Jones has since changed his tune on the 30-year-old, backing him to thrive this summer
Last week, when the Lions squad was announced, Itoje had become a shoo-in for the captaincy
‘He’ll be Lions captain, then British Prime Minister and President of Nigeria – he’ll do all of it! Nobody will talk about Donald Trump anymore.’
What people certainly will talk about – within British, Irish and Australian rugby circles at least – is the thorny issue of the Lions No 10 debate; both in terms of the men chosen and the others omitted from the tour squad.
Jones knows some of the playmakers at the centre of the debate better than most, not least Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell, around whom he spent the latter part of his England tenure trying to build a back line.
On the more established of England’s two Smiths, he said: ‘Fin Smith will probably be England’s first-choice 10, but Marcus can be the best No 22 in the world – or play at full back and 10 sometimes.
‘He can be the best 22 in the world because he has the ability to play at 10 and at full back, kicks goals at 80 per cent and he’s still got that bit of X-factor about him so he can win games out of nothing.
‘His career has probably changed a little bit in terms of where he thought it would go but there’s a great opportunity for him in Australia. I’m pleased for him. He’s very resilient as a character, but like any player, you get confidence from being successful.’
As for Farrell Jnr, he remains in contention for a belated Lions call-up, based on his status as a Test centurion and tried-and-tested Lions veteran with a renowned competitive streak.
He may lack any form after a season of injury strife, but Jones – a long-time member of the former England captain’s fan club – can see the logic in keeping a place open for him.
Jones – a long-time member of Owen Farrell’s fan club – supports keeping a place open for him
Jones believes Marcus Smith can bring the X-factor off the bench that the Lions will need
‘You know you’re going to get a player who competes on every play,’ he said. ‘That has been the essence of Owen; he competes hard on every play, defensive or attacking.
‘He’s England’s highest points-scorer and he’s won everything apart from a World Cup. That’s a pretty good record.
‘You’re picking a team for two or three really big games. Say he came late and ended up filling in for the second or third Test, you know he’s going to do a job for you.
‘You know he’s never going to let anyone down. He’s going to play hard, he’ll compete and kick his goals, so it’s almost a no-brainer he could come in as a back-up player.’
On the whole, Jones believes the selection choices by Andy Farrell and his assistants make sense, based on the balance of power within the home nations – as well as on form shown in major club fixtures.
Jones believes the Lions are short of a player such as Jack Willis, who has impressed in Europe
The Lions may yet struggle to contain the likes of Rob Valetini, the 18st Brumbies back-rower
Jones, a two-time former Australia head coach, is predicting a close series this summer
However, he claimed ‘the Lions have no absolutely outstanding, world-class players’ – and he also feels there is a glaring shortcoming in their ranks.
‘I don’t know if they have enough ball-carrying oomph in the back row,’ he said, knowing the Wallabies are armed with tackle-busting assets such as Rob Valetini, the near-18st Brumbies back-rower.
‘Jack Willis is not really a carrier but in Europe over the last two years he has shown himself to be a really first-class player.’
For now, neither Jack Willis nor his brother Tom have been picked, although that may change. Jones is adamant a close series is in prospect.
