Henry Pollock has been backed to be a bolter for the British and Irish Lions — by two of the touring team’s most formidable former opponents.
The 20-year-old Northampton flanker only made his senior international debut for England against Wales in March.
But he has put himself in contention for a surprise Lions call-up after a string of stand-out displays, most recently in the Saints’ stunning Champions Cup semi-final win at Leinster last weekend.
And rugby greats Bryan Habana and Sean Fitzpatrick now both believe Pollock would be a worthy addition to Andy Farrell’s squad when he names it on Thursday.
‘Looking at his current form, he can only add value to this Lions team,’ Habana, who starred for South Africa when they beat the Lions 2-1 in 2009, told Mail Sport.
‘He’s playing phenomenal rugby at the moment. To be playing at that level for your club is pretty special.
Henry Pollock starred for Northampton in their Champions Cup win at Leinster last weekend
The 20-year-old scored two tries on his England debut against Wales in March
‘The absolute exhilaration of youth is something that is really the buy-in for him — the manner in which he enjoys the battle of the breakdown, the way he involves himself in the game, the lack of fear, not only for his body, but in terms of everything he does.
‘Would he be a bolter? Yes. Would he be unfavoured? 100 per cent no.’
Legendary All Blacks captain Fitzpatrick, who led his side to glory against the Lions in 1993, also reckons Pollock’s confident personality would be perfectly suited for the tour Down Under.
‘He’s a bit of a character — and he can play too,’ said Fitzpatrick, speaking in his role as chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy.
‘You need personalities in those environments because it is a tough tour.
‘They’re going to need two in every position with the same sort of quality and Pollock could be one of those. It will be fun.’
Habana and Fitzpatrick also both favour England captain Maro Itoje to lead the Lions over Ireland skipper Caelan Doris, who is having shoulder surgery this week and is a major injury doubt.
England captain Maro Itoje is the front-runner to be named British & Irish Lions skipper
Itoje has previous Lions experience having been on the tours of New Zealand and South Africa
‘If I was Andy Farrell, I’d probably go with Maro because of his experience and because of his current level of play,’ said Habana, a Laureus Academy member.
‘Maro would probably be that No1 pick on the team sheet. He has really grown into this leadership role in what has been a struggle in that English environment over the last four years. Having experienced Lions tours previously, he might be able to do something extremely special as tour captain.’
Fitzpatrick said: ‘They may have learned something during the Six Nations because I thought England were outstanding.
‘France were quite clearly the best team, but I thought England were very impressive and were led very well — and Maro played every minute of every game.
‘It is a difficult job. You’ve got four nations coming together, so you need a special kind of person.
‘If you look back to the 1993 team in New Zealand, poor old Gavin Hastings had a really tough job uniting that team.
‘He’s one of the great guys of world rugby, so if he found it difficult, you know that it really can be difficult if you haven’t got harmony within the team.’
Lions coach Andy Farrell names his squad for the tour of Australia on Thursday in London
Bryan Habana and Sean Fitzpatrick were speaking in their role as Laureus Academy members
Fitzpatrick believes Australia will prove to be a tough test for the tourists under the leadership of Joe Schmidt, who he knows well.
But whatever the result this summer, the 61-year-old hopes the series once again shows the value of the Lions concept.
‘The Lions is the greatest brand in world rugby and it continues to be,’ added Fitzpatrick. ‘Anyone that’s talking about getting rid of the Lions must have bloody rocks in their heads.
‘We’re hearing it will be the biggest touring Lions fanbase ever, which is amazing. It will be good for everyone – for the economy, for the game.
‘We just need young fans to engage and things like the Lions is appealing. To only have one competition every four years, the World Cup, would be boring.’
