Victor Matfield: 'There's a big hype around him... I just can't understand it'

Former Springboks captain Victor Matfield has questioned the hype surrounding Henry Pollock after the England back-row-turned-winger grabbed the headlines once again with two tries against Australia at the weekend.

Pollock was introduced at half-time of England’s 45-22 Nations Championship victory at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium after Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was forced off with a series-ending ankle injury, but was unusually deployed on the wing by Steve Borthwick.

The 21-year-old adapted quickly, scoring twice as England pulled away in the second half to record their highest-ever points total against the Wallabies and continue Pollock’s remarkable rise in Test rugby.

His performances and exuberant celebrations have already made him one of the most recognisable figures in Borthwick’s squad, although his profile continues to divide opinion given that he remains predominantly an impact player for England rather than a regular starter.

That debate was picked up on the Rugby Rivals podcast, where the former Bok lock Matfield admitted he still does not understand the attention surrounding Pollock, while All Blacks great John Kirwan argued that England are crying out for precisely that kind of personality.

“I know there’s a big hype around him, but I just still can’t understand it,” Matfield said.

“I mean, he ran over with an open try line and it’s all about him. You should go back to your inside backs that did all the work, the forwards that gave you front-foot ball.’

“I just don’t understand his celebrations.”

Kirwan offered a different interpretation of Pollock’s appeal.

“I think England need a superstar, mate. I think that’s the main problem,” he said.

“When you think about that English side, how many players are getting the stand on their feet? Whether you like him or not, I think he’s a superstar.”

Matfield nevertheless questioned whether Pollock could already warrant superstar status while remaining outside England’s starting XV, with 13 of his 14 caps so far coming from the bench.

“I just want to still ask: superstar? How can you be a superstar if you don’t even start for your country, playing off the bench? You don’t make the starting line-up.”

Kirwan responded: “The crowd decide who they’re going to love and who they’re not going to love. For me, the crowd decides and I just think the crowd want a superstar in that English side.

“Is he a superstar from a rugby point of view? You can discuss that and I think that’s another discussion, but I think the crowd and the newspapers, they’re fascinated with him.”