Henry Pollock looked like the traditional No.8 England need: Andy Goode

Henry Pollock isn’t just proving his doubters wrong, he’s making them look downright daft after a world class performance in his first ever Prem play-off.

Everyone knows about his force of personality and that’s the main reason for the criticism he’s received but it’s also a major factor behind his ability to perform on the biggest stages and he should be judged on the levels he’s producing on the field.

If you do that, I don’t think anyone can argue he’s a superstar already and he may only be 21 years of age but the next step is getting a consistent run in the England team at one of the most attritional positions in number eight.

He has started just one of his 10 Tests, against Ireland in this year’s Six Nations, and Steve Borthwick has to give him the same support that Phil Dowson does and back him to be himself and bring his unique energy from the start in international rugby.

With Tom Willis off to France, and not having been considered during the Six Nations or the autumn as a result, it isn’t a position that England are blessed in and he’s regularly showing in the biggest club games of all that he can be the solution.

Ben Earl hasn’t let anyone down there but plays openside for Saracens and would probably relish the opportunity to do so in a white shirt as well, Alex Dombrandt has had more than a few chances and it’s now Pollock’s time to shine.

In the past the likes of Sam Simmonds, Don Armand and others have been overlooked because of a perception that they don’t do enough of the grunt work or operate too much in the wider channels, that coming from Eddie Jones, and the same seems to have been levelled at Pollock but it’s nonsense.

He’s asked to perform different roles by Saints depending on the game but looked every bit the traditional number eight on Friday night as he made 27 carries, got over the gainline with 13 of those, beat nine defenders and clocked up 110 metres.

He also chipped in with 11 tackles and a turnover on the other side of the ball but he was physical and abrasive in attack, combining that with the speed we know he has and some sensational footwork before taking contact.

He made the most post-contact metres of anyone on the pitch and George Martin was absolutely banging boys, with Ollie Chessum, Hanro Liebenberg and Tommy Reffell bringing levels of physicality that felt ferocious just watching pitchside and from up in the stands.

Northampton had a powerful number eight in Callum Chick on the bench, together with the man mountain that is JJ van der Mescht, and other sizeable units starting but it’s Pollock who was entrusted with bearing the brunt of the close quarter carrying duties.

He made twice as many carries as any other player on the field, beat three times as many defenders as anyone else and played the full 80 minutes without a problem, even popping up as the one to kick the ball off and end the game.

It’s far from a flash in the pan either as he averages 18 carries, 82 metres, five defenders beaten, 12 tackles and two turnovers won per game in the league this season and has stayed on the pitch for the full 80 in every Prem game he’s started in 2026.

The only weakness I’ve seen from him is his lineout-throwing and, from what people say about him, he’ll probably be practising that this week now.

He’s raised his game at every time of asking, whether it be starring for England U20 as they won the World Championship, scoring two tries on his senior international debut, scoring on his Champions Cup debut and in the semi-final at Leinster and excelling from number eight in the final against Bordeaux last season.

Now he’s done it in a Prem play-off at the first time of asking and it’s about time people start focusing on what an achievement it is to be delivering on a consistent basis at such a tender age rather than the peripheral stuff.

Fin Smith has talked up his ability to put other players at ease and release the tension, as well as bring the energy, and his team-mates might laugh at a perceived lack of intelligence at times but he has rugby IQ in spades.

If he was from New Zealand, and he isn’t a million miles away from Ardie Savea in style, everyone would be waxing lyrical about him, rallying behind him and there wouldn’t be a negative word said.

There are plenty singing his praises on these shores, of course, but there is a tendency for our media to want to tear a player down when they stick their head above the parapet regardless of the sport they’re in.

You only have to look at Kevin Pietersen, Paul Gascoigne, Danny Cipriani and the list goes on but the tide is turning and there’s a generational shift that means Pollock will have an entirely different experience.

Rugby, with its traditional values, is naturally late to catch on but social media and direct access is king now and if you ask anyone under the age of 20 to name an England rugby player, Pollock will be the first one on their lips.

He has the world at his feet and Eddie Hearn will definitely help him make the most of it all after he signed a management contract with the Matchroom Talent Agency, no doubt allowing him to be himself and explore whatever opportunities interest him.

Pollock might not change the sport in terms of his pure ability and style as a rugby player but there’s every chance he’ll move it on significantly in terms of how it’s viewed and it’s overall place in the sporting landscape, only time will tell, and that can only be a good thing.

On the field, he went on a British & Irish Lions tour last year and people thought it might be a case of second season syndrome this time around but, instead of teams working him out, he has become a more rounded player and hit new heights.

There’s every chance we see another level up this weekend, resulting in him hoisting the Prem trophy above his head, and Borthwick shouldn’t think twice about starting him against South Africa at Ellis Park next month.