Rassie Erasmus, South Africa's Director of Rugby, has drawn a notable comparison between England's rising star Henry Pollock and his double World Cup-winning captain, Siya Kolisi. Erasmus's remarks come as the 21-year-old Pollock is set to face the formidable Springboks for the first time in Johannesburg next week, a fixture that marks the opening of England's Nations Championship campaign.
Pollock, who has quickly established himself as one of rugby's most exciting back-row talents, has been named in Steve Borthwick's England squad for the demanding summer tour. Despite some criticism from South African figures, including 2007 World Cup winner Schalk Burger, who last year referred to Pollock as a 'TikTok dancer', Erasmus has urged a focus on the player's on-field performance. He suggested that, much like Kolisi, Pollock might inherently attract attention, but his 'exceptional output' is what truly matters.
Erasmus elaborated on the comparison, stating, "He's like Siya. People make a big deal about certain players, but I don't always think the players themselves want that attention. What counts is what they do on the field, and recently, he’s been doing that. If I were coaching him, I'd only look at his output, and that has been exceptional." This endorsement from such a respected figure in world rugby underscores the high regard in which Pollock is held, despite his relatively young age.
England's squad, with an average age of 27 and around 32 Test caps per player, is described by Erasmus as a 'young yet experienced' unit. Jamie George has been installed as captain for the tour, with Maro Itoje rested. The Springboks boss anticipates a tough test at Ellis Park, acknowledging the blend of youth and experience in the English side, which he believes will bring a 'fearlessness' to a team that reached the World Cup semi-final in 2023.
Following the South Africa clash, England's challenging summer schedule continues with matches against Fiji at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium and Argentina in Santiago del Estero later in July. This demanding tour provides a significant opportunity for England to build momentum and for younger players like Pollock to further cement their places on the international stage, especially after finishing fifth in the recent Six Nations tournament.