'That's nonsense': Ex-Bok coach takes aim at Borthwick's Pollock decision

Former Springboks head coach Nick Mallett has criticised Steve Borthwick’s decision to play rising England star Henry Pollock from the bench at Ellis Park.

The decision to bench Pollock meant that England’s back row was below the quality that it could have been, which ultimately cost England in the 45-21 loss to the Springboks.

Mallett said that 21-year-old Pollock did not need ‘protecting’ from the pressure and that failing to back the young star was a mistake.

“I would have started Pollock,” he said on Talking Boks with Brendan Nel.

“I don’t think he is a guy that you necessarily bring off the bench. He is a fantastic rugby player, and you start the guy and don’t worry about all the media pressure.

“It’s like saying Sacha, we’ll bring him on with 20 minutes to go to protect him. That’s nonsense. You want to get him out there and give him the best opportunity to show what he can do.

“If they had started with him and a big blindside flank and Earl, their loose trio would have been better.”

Borthwick’s call was consistent with his previous selections, with Pollock playing every Test last November off the bench. In this year’s Six Nations campaign it was similar, with just one start at No.8 against Ireland and every other appearance from the bench.

His start against Ireland remains his only one across his first 10 Tests.

Instead, veteran Tom Curry started at openside along side Ollie Chessum and Ben Earl in the back row against South Africa. Curry himself rose to prominence during the 2018 tour of South Africa as a young player, grabbing the No.7 jersey under Eddie Jones.

Mallett did say England weren’t as bad as the scoreline suggests, working from a 17-0 deficit to get within 10 points down 31-21 with 10 minutes to go.

“I felt they had a really good side. The Premiership had a really good final, and Northampton has been playing well and he had a number of their players in his team,” he said.

“I am not too critical of Borthwick. I have been there myself. I know how difficult it is when you go away to get a result. South Africa did perform well, but the result flattered us and they didn’t deserve to get 45 points.”

England travel home to take on Fiji in round two of the Nations Championship where they will attempt to stop a five-game losing streak.