Advertisement
Whether it made the difference or not for Henry Pollock’s British and Irish Lions selection, the man himself has admitted that he targeted Northampton Saints’ Investec Champions Cup semifinal against Leinster for a final push for a place in the squad.
The English champions met Leinster on 3 May at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin and produced a performance for the ages.
They returned home with a 37-34 win and a place in the final in Cardiff on 24 May. Five days later Andy Farrell named the flanker in his Lions squad.
BABY OF THE PRIDE
“Before that game there was an outside chance, but I remember going in thinking that if I could stand out that I might get a chance,” Pollock told Stick To Rugby Podcast.
“That backrow is one of the best I’ve played against, and I said if I can go in and play well against them and be on the same level, if not better than that.”
At 20, Pollock is the youngest player in the Lions squad.
He has enjoyed a stellar year that featured a Junior World Cup win, an U20 Six Nations title, Saints debut, first England cap and first England tries, and outstanding displays to help Saints reach the Champions Cup Final.
A place in the Lions squad is his reward and he will be joined by four other Northampton players – Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell, and Tommy Freeman – in Australia.
TOUR BONDING
They will soon be getting to know the rest of the Lions squad when they meet for the first time and begin preparations for the three test series.
“It is so special having four boys, some of my best mates, down there together is going to be cool,” Pollock said.
“There’s a reason we’ve been picked, so you’ve just got to go down there and be yourself and get to know the boys. Going down there and meeting the boys, meeting the staff, and building that cohesion.
“I want to keep that form going, and we’ve got another big game in a couple of weeks that we’re all excited for, so that is another big stage to show yourself.”