'Unbelievable' Henry Pollock predicted his first Test try would be on the wing

Tommy Freeman has revealed that England team-mate Henry Pollock predicted his first Test try would come on the wing and even rehearsed his celebration the night before setting a new record.

Pollock iced the cake for England with two late scores on his Test debut as Wales were crushed 68-14 in Cardiff.

In doing so, the 20-year-old Northampton back-row forward became England’s youngest men’s Six Nations try-scorer, eclipsing wing Henry Arundell by 36 days, claiming his opener just inside the touchline after collecting George Ford’s sublime pass.

It served further notice of Pollock’s rich potential – but came as no surprise to Freeman, who set his own record as the first England player to score a try in every game of a Six Nations campaign.

“He is unbelievable,” Freeman said.

Points Flow Chart

England win +54

Time in lead

0

Mins in lead

81

0%

% Of Game In Lead

98%

61%

Possession Last 10 min

39%

7

Points Last 10 min

14

“I don’t want to big him up too much, but honestly, he brings some sort of energy like you have never seen before for a 20-year-old.

“I remember my first game I was shaking in the corner, all nervous. But this guy, nothing fazes him.

“I remember (Friday) night as well. He was in my room telling me about he was going to get his first try on the wing – and then he gets it.

“He was doing the try celebrations as well in the room, showed me what he was going to do.

“But that is the type of guy he is, and fair play to him, he backs it up and he has got a big career ahead of him. That kid is pretty, pretty special, and he will continue to be, I am sure.”

Pollock, who started the first two games of England Under-20s’ Six Nations campaign this season, went on at the Principality Stadium with Freeman and company in total control.

But he made his mark during a 30-minute contribution off the replacements’ bench that underlined England’s enviable back-row riches.

Pollock said: “I wanted to come into this environment and be myself, whether that is giving energy on the pitch or energy in training, and I hope I did that.

“I was just so excited to get out there. What an amazing stadium to win my first cap in. I was so grateful and so happy – you could see it in my face, just smiling the whole time.

“They (senior players) wanted me to come into the environment and be myself. They gave me the freedom to do that.

“I am so grateful for that. They are such good leaders and world-class players, so to say I played with them is a massive honour.”

Freeman, switched from wing to centre for England’s Six Nations finale, is one of only three players to touch down in every Six Nations match, being joined by French pair Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Philippe Bernat-Salles.

“It’s pretty special,” he said. “I tried not to think about it too much.

“My parents were talking to me about it, and the boys beforehand, but I didn’t want to talk it out of existence. So, yes, I was happy to get over the line.”