'Never': Kevin Sinfield pays Henry Pollock huge compliment ahead of Ireland Test

Kevin Sinfield insists England have a target on their backs as he demanded an emphatic response to the collapse at Murrayfield when Ireland visit Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Steve Borthwick’s men were conclusively beaten 31-20 by Scotland in round two, ending their 12-Test triumphant run and damaging their chances of winning the Guinness Six Nations.

Ireland arrive at Twickenham having prevailed in five of the rivals’ last six meetings, and while Sinfield knows England are viewed as a prized scalp, he says they are determined to make amends for relinquishing the Calcutta Cup.

“We’re English aren’t we? Everybody wants to knock us off. You become very used to that and understand that,” the assistant coach and rugby league great said.

“We’ve tried to learn the lessons from last weekend and we’re fully aware that good teams bounce back. We have to show a response.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

1

Draws

0

Wins

4

Average Points scored

18

30

First try wins

80%

Home team wins

80%

“We want to be better than we were against Scotland. It wasn’t good enough. It’s not the standards we’ve set for some time now.

“You can’t stand at the start of a Test match and be 17-0 behind and expect to claw your way back. We need to be better this week.

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out that physically, at the start of last weekend, we weren’t where we needed to be. We’re all responsible for that.”

As one of three changes in personnel to the starting XV beaten in Edinburgh, 21-year-old showman Henry Pollock has been given his first start having made all seven previous appearances off the bench.

Borthwick has backed Pollock to bring “euphoria” to Twickenham and Sinfield reflects on the number eight’s unique persona.

“I’ve never worked with anybody like Henry before. I’ve never played with anybody like that. Not at his age, to bring what he brings,” Sinfield said.

“I’ve been around loud players, I’ve been around noisy players and guys who brought energy, but they haven’t been as good as him. And they haven’t been as focused as him. Behind the bravado, there’s a fantastic rugby player there.

“The Henry Pollock we’ve had for 25, 30 minutes of previous Tests, we need that from the start and just to get him going. I love working with him.”