HENRY Pollock might be the rising young star of rugby union but for World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio, it is his old-school nature that is the most appealing aspect of the Northampton Saints’ flanker’s rise, writes Paul Eddison.
Still only 20, Pollock made a two-try debut for England in a record win over Wales in Cardiff and has carried that form back to club duty with Saints.
He scored a try and set up another in their Investec Champions Cup victory over Clermont Auvergne last Friday night, setting up a quarter-final clash with another French team, Castres, on Saturday, live on Premier Sports 1 from 5.15pm.
Dallaglio will be at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens as part of the Premier Sports punditry team for the clash on Saturday with the broadcaster having added further global competitions to their offering in the form of Japan’s JLR1 and USA’s Major League Rugby.
The two leagues will be shown as part of a new 24/7 rugby channel, Premier Sports Rugby, while the broadcaster will now host more than 400 live rugby games every season from competitions across 11 rugby nations.
But this week is all about international club rugby action as we hit the quarter-finals of the Investec Champions Cup, which are all live and exclusive on Premier Sports.
Since his emergence at the highest level, Pollock has looked comfortable every time an opportunity has been presented to him and for Dallaglio, who interviewed the back-rower for broadcaster Premier Sports, there is something endearing about how he has handled his rise.
He said: “This time last year, Henry Pollock was in fancy dress at Croke Park (when Northampton played Leinster in a Champions Cup semi-final). Here he is, 12 months later, with an international cap and a mainstay of the team. It’s been an incredible story.
“I’m impressed by the fact that he is only 20 years of age. There is a lot of hype around him, and I think at times, we can get over-excited, but in his case, I think it’s justified. I’ve watched him a lot this season, there were always whispers and some noise from the Saints academy that we have a really talented player here. I think he was chomping at the bit to break into the first team.
“Every next milestone, he seems to have handled it very well. He has a huge amount of energy and work rate, and he is one of those players who wants to get involved in the game right from the very start.
“I thought he was superb against Clermont, and he is brimming with confidence. He talks the talk, which is quite brave for a 20-year-old, but he also walks the walk. He has backed it up with performances. I admire someone like that, it’s the old school way really.”
On Saturday, Dallaglio will be able to see Saints up close and personal as part of the Premier Sports team alongside an all-star talent cast of Martin Bayfield, Simon Zebo, Pat Lam, Andy Goode, Miles Harrison, Ben Kayser and Claire Thomas.
And while they have been well off the pace in the league, currently sitting 13 points off the play-off spots, Dallaglio believes Northampton can still hit the heights that saw them crowned champions of England a year ago.
He added: “In some ways, you become victims of your own success in the Premiership, you look at Northampton, they were brilliant last season. They got over the line in the final by the skin of their teeth in the final but then they lost three of their most experienced players in Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam and Alex Waller.
“And because they were so good last season, instead of losing two or three players to international duty, it’s suddenly seven or eight for the autumn internationals and the Six Nations, and you pick up injuries in between. That is where you do need the depth of the squad.
“The Premiership is difficult to win back-to-back anyway, so I don’t find it a surprise that they have struggled this season because of the extra call-ups to their squad and the loss of the experienced players.
“It’s a good thing to have players at the highest level possible, but it’s a double-edged sword because they come back and it takes a few weeks to get back into club rugby.
“I thought their performance against Clermont was pretty good. They weren’t quite a full tilt and I think there are still improvements to be made, but I thought they were very impressive.
“If they managed to compete in that tight five area, they have got a very talented team that are capable of playing some of the best rugby in Europe.
“They are the champion club of England and they are flying the flag in Europe, so this game against Castres represents a chance to have another crack at a semi-final.”
Premier Sports is the home of Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup rugby and offers rugby fans more than 400 games live across its channels during the season, with all the action from the United Rugby Championship, Top 14, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MLR in the USA and Japan League 1. Join the home of rugby for just £11.99 a month. Visit www.premiersports.com.
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