- Northampton’s players drank until the early hours on Sunday after their big win
- Phil Dowson broke his glasses in the pandemonium and signed off on a night out
- Henry Pollock was inspired by the display of a 17-year-old Barcelona wonderkid
As the beer cans popped open in the away end of the Aviva Stadium, Phil Dowson extended the drinks budget and signed-off a night out in Dublin.
His team had every reason to celebrate, drinking until the early hours of Sunday morning, having landed the club’s greatest victory on their European travels.
Lock Alex Coles, head of the team’s social schedule, was in charge of logistics, leading the squad to House bar, just off St Stephen’s Green in the city centre.
Dowson broke his glasses in the pandemonium, joyously manhandled by fellow coach Sam Vesty as they watched Northampton’s youngsters take down Leinster.
‘Who wants it?’ shouted Henry Pollock, the fearless 20-year-old, ready to take on all-comers in the final in Cardiff later this month.
There was plenty to toast, with Pollock’s remarkable rise near the top of the list. The boisterous forward is learning on the job, thriving under the growing spotlight.
Northampton celebrated their wild victory over Leinster with a night out in Dublin
Players drank until the early hours after securing their greatest win on their European travels
They had every reason to party after their youngsters took down Leinster at the Aviva Stadium
‘Do you want me to stay and hold your hand?’ joked Dowson to Pollock, as he walked into the media room of the Aviva Stadium after the match, knowing full-well that Pollock can already handle himself.
‘No, see you on the bus!’ replied the flanker, whose checking-the-pulse try celebration became one of the defining images of the day.
‘Ice in the veins,’ he added, explaining how he was inspired by watching 17-year-old Lamine Yamal’s masterclass for Barcelona in the Champions League last week.
For his first-half try, Pollock looked like he was running loose on a schoolboy rugby pitch, except it was Ireland No 10 Sam Prendergast and South Africa lock RG Snyman left in his tracks.
He is already a leader on the pitch, barking encouragement at his older team-mates, lifting the energy levels as his team came under fire from Leinster’s heavyweights.
‘Before the game you probably look at the team sheet and go, “Wow, Jordie Barrett is playing” and it is pretty cool,’ said Pollock. ‘On the pitch you don’t really think about it. The academy system at Saints is probably one of the best in the world.
‘If you look at our team, half the players probably came through the academy and we pride ourselves on that. We are taking everything in our stride.’
Talk quickly turned to whether Pollock will feature in Andy Farrell’s Lions squad this week.
Henry Pollock is already a leader on the pitch and could feature in Andy Farrell’s Lions squad
One thing is certain: Northampton’s team of giant-slayers have done their cause no harm
‘I have thought about it but at the end of the day you can’t control it – it is subjective,’ said Pollock. ‘It would be an honour to go on that plane and represent the Lions but if it is not this year then I am sure I will be able to pick myself up and bounce back up.’
His time will come, sooner or later. One thing is certain: Northampton’s team of giant-slayers have done their cause no harm.
