'It is something I just don’t understand': Dallaglio verdict on Henry Pollock

World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio has defended Henry Pollock’s social media profile, insisting the England and Northampton Saints youngster is just what the sport needs, having avoided the dreaded second season syndrome.

That is when opposition players work a young player out and ruthlessly expose weaknesses that have been identified in their game. However, Pollock continues to make an impact on the international, Investec Champions Cup and Gallagher PREM stages with the arrival of the powerful Bulls to Franklin’s Gardens this weekend, another chance to silence his critics.

Former Springbok Schalk Burger was far from impressed with Pollock’s TikTok dancing and the young star has attracted more ire from South African fans after RugbyPass announced the latest 20 players in their Top 100 countdown, with Pollock capping a breakthrough year with a place in the top 50.

Dallaglio said: “It is a bit invidious for certain ex-players to say that he is a TikTok rugby player – every player is on TikTok these days who is below 25 years old. Some of the antics off the pitch and around him attract a different sort of reputation, but the reality is that he still delivers on the pitch. The more you do on the pitch the more news headlines and column inches you are going to attract, and if we are still writing about Henry Pollock then he must be doing something right.

“He hasn’t suffered what people call a second-season syndrome because he is a very good player. He is 20 years old, and from what I saw him deliver off the bench for England against the All Blacks, I wouldn’t call that second-season syndrome. He actually did more in those 20 minutes than most people do in 60 minutes before him.

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“As a player, you are judged on how you affect the outcome of the game, not just on how many tackles or line breaks and from what I see, Henry Pollock does things that affect the outcome of games and if you are doing that in your second season after the first one you had, then everyone will be thrilled and delighted.”

Dallaglio’s own career took him from the back pages to tabloid front page headlines with various off-the-field problems that gave him the kind of profile the RFU blazers hated, but it attracted attention and raised the game’s profile. Now, Pollock is taking that to a new level as a TikTok star who is happy to acknowledge the impact he is making through his love of pushing and shoving opponents, dance routines filmed with England team-mates and answering pleas from fans to hand over various pieces of his playing kit after matches.

Dallaglio added: “I said right from the start that this was a player with immense talent and potential. Did I expect him to achieve everything he has in such a short space of time? Probably not, and I don’t think anyone did and let’s not hold that against him. He has been picked fair and square, and while some people take a dim view of that, it is something I just don’t understand. I enjoy watching him because there is always going to be something happening on the pitch, and you want people to watch rugby to get excited, and whatever happens around him tends to be quite interesting.

“Your team-mates keep you grounded and that’s happening at Northampton, and when you meet him, it is very different from what is perceived, and Henry is a very humble and grounded bloke. “

Northampton started their bid to reach a second successive Champions Cup final – they were beaten by Bordeaux – with a narrow win at Pau, with Pollock making an impact off the bench. Dallaglio said: “It has been an extraordinary 18 months (for Pollock) and apart from Maro Itoje, I cannot remember anyone who has had a period like this. Two years ago, he was in fancy dress in the crowd supporting Northampton in the Champions Cup semi-finals and what he has achieved in those 18 months takes others an entire career to achieve. I am very impressed and you do become a bit of a marked man when you start to tick off those achievements, but his star will continue to rise.

“He has become a very well-established player in the Northampton team, got capped and scored tries for England and went on the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia. He played in a losing Champions Cup final and came off the bench in the autumn series to great effect.

“Just because he isn’t starting in these teams doesn’t diminish people’s view of him, and with the way selection of the 23 goes, the nature of the game has changed. It is based on what combination the coaches think will win the match and we saw him come on against Pau last weekend and helped secure an impressive late win in France. Whatever Northampton have been doing with Pollock has worked really well and I am super impressed.”

Lawrence Dallaglio is part of the 40-strong TV team at Premier Sports – the home of Investec Champions Cup across the UK and Ireland with every match live, including 21 EPCR Challenge Cup games and all the knock-out stages and Finals. Big Games. Bigger Moments – visit www.premiersports.com to join in from just £11.99 a month @PremSports.tv