Pollock has eye for the tryline

THERE has been a veritable torrent of words regarding Henry Pollock recently and that’s not going to lessen anytime soon but, despite the acres of column inche,s what possibly doesn’t get highlighted enough is his hunger for tries and indeed his nose for the line and expertise in dobbing down.

I can’t remember the last time England had such a natural try scorer in their back row ranks and it’s a rare enough quality worldwide.

It gives your team another weapon. Most sides are laden with players who can bravely and effectively truck it up all afternoon but possessing a player with that extra dimension and aptitude is gold dust.

Pollock, above, scores tries – spectacular tries – wherever he plays whether it be a memorable length of the field effort on loan to Bedford, a hat-trick on his England U20 debut against Italy and a brace on his full England debut against Wales.

This season alone he has scored six tries in the European Champions Cup, which makes him the joint second top try scorer in the tournament alongside Tommy Freeman and Louis Bielle-Biarrey. That’s very elite company indeed for a humble flanker. Life will be very tough against Leinster, Saints are massive underdogs, but don’t be surprised if he adds to that total.