Henry Pollock made a remarkable debut to Australian rugby fans during his first start for the British and Irish Lions on Saturday night, showcasing his talents in a commanding 54-7 victory over the Western Force.
The 20-year-old No.8 was instrumental in setting up two of the Lions’ eight tries in front of a record crowd of 46,656 at Optus Stadium.
Pollock flourished under the encouragement of Lions coach Andy Farrell, who urged his talented squad to embrace an attacking style, following their disappointing 28-24 defeat to Argentina in Dublin.
Henry Pollock of the British and Irish Lions in action. Getty
Pollock showcased his prowess with a powerful run in the 17th minute, maintaining his composure to hit the ground before offloading to his small halfback, Tomos Williams, who easily crossed for a try.
By the 55th minute, he mirrored the play of All Black star Ardie Savea, executing a clever chip ahead that shifted the momentum back towards the Lions.
The Lions subsequently moved the ball swiftly to the left, allowing standout lock Joe McCarthy to score.
AS IT HAPPENED: Western Force vs British and Irish Lions
Henry Pollock of the British & Irish Lions walks off the field after being shown a yellow card. Getty
In a moment that raised eyebrows, Pollock received a yellow card for a ruck infringement, following a warning given to his team by referee Ben O’Keeffe.
Nonetheless, his marked confidence and dynamic performance could make him an exciting option for Farrell as a potential bench player in the upcoming first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane on July 19.
“I thrive on the big moments,” Pollock shared with Stan Sport.
Henry Pollock of the Lions acknowledges the crowd at Optus Stadium. Getty
“What an incredible group, and I was eager to be a part of it. We focused on hitting the lines and being ready for offloads, anticipating break tackles and taking those risky opportunities through the middle – and we seized them.”
“It was an enjoyable match, and we all relished it… being part of this elite group is extraordinary – we represent four of the best nations with the top players in the northern hemisphere.”
“I feel privileged to be involved… such a campaign and collective experience is brief, and we aim to make history together.”
“There are numerous players vying for positions, which is what you want.”
Despite not scoring, Lions wingers James Lowe and Mack Hansen played pivotal roles in setting up attempts for their teammates with some daring moves.
Before kick-off, the cheeky ground announcer playfully acknowledged New Zealander Lowe and Australian Hansen, who both represent Ireland.
Mack Hansen of the British and Irish Lions in action. Getty
“With the talent in our squad, we know we can triumph over anyone,” said former ACT Brumbies player Hansen, also speaking to Stan Sport.
“I’m not sure if we’re quite there yet to challenge Australia, but we’re certainly making progress.”
After a tense first half that ended with the Lions ahead 21-7, despite only controlling 40% of possession and spending much of the time defending, the more experienced visitors surged ahead and put five tries past a weary defence in the second half.
Tomos Williams of the British & Irish Lions holds his left leg after his second try. Getty
Williams scored two tries before experiencing a hamstring issue, while fullback Elliot Daly added two of his own and No.10 Finn Russell generated two tries through his spontaneous decision-making. Russell also successfully converted five goals.
Concern looms over the depth of halfbacks in the squad, particularly with likely starting player Jamison Gibson-Park recovering from a glute injury.
Early Moments
After their defeat to the Pumas, the Lions reshuffled their lineup, placing more emphasis on quick, dynamic passing.
They strung together 11 phases until Russell’s precise kick found captain Dan Sheehan, who tapped it to Lowe, who flicked an inside pass back to Sheehan for the opening try.
The Force quickly responded, with veteran Wallabies halfback Nic White sniping from the base of a ruck five minutes in, evening the score after 14 phases of attack.
Choosing not to kick for goal to maintain their attacking momentum, the Force aimed to sustain pressure, but the Lions countered with critical turnovers.
Russell was instrumental in setting up the first try with a well-placed kick wide, and he created the third with a quick tap-and-go penalty in the 35th minute, darting up to the five-yard line before offloading to Daly, who scored.
Pollock’s influence was key in the Lions’ second try, as he connected with openside flanker Josh van der Flier and, after a sharp inside move, released Williams for his first try.
As halftime approached, Pollock received a yellow card for an infringement in a ruck deep in his half, leaving the Lions a man down.
The Force nearly capitalised on the resulting penalty but were held up just short.
As the match progressed, the Lions’ defence tightened, though Force wingers Dylan Pietsch and Mac Grealy were particularly impressive throughout.
Tomos Williams of the British & Irish Lions dives in to score. Getty
A Defining Moment
Seven minutes into the second half, Williams capped off an 80m counterattack try, with both wingers contributing significantly, as Lowe burst through before passing to Williams for the finish.
Shortly after, Williams left the field limping, replaced by Alex Mitchell.
Dan Sheehan of the British & Irish Lions breaks clear to score their first try. Getty
The Lions’ attacking flair directly led to Garry Ringrose’s touchdown soon after, giving them a commanding 33-7 lead.
Pollock was back in action shortly after, executing a sublime chip over the defence and regathering before nearly scoring himself, setting up McCarthy for the try on the edge.
Daly added to the score in the 71st minute as the Lions expanded their lead to 40 points.
The margin was further extended to 47 as Mitchell concluded the scoring after the siren, receiving a pass from Hansen in the process.
In response, White noted that “the score does not accurately reflect how the game went.”
“Particularly in the first 50 minutes, we were right in the contest. One turnover, and they countered and we lost control from there,” lamented the Force captain.
James Lowe of British & Irish Lions offloads on the way to setting up his side’s fourth try. Getty
However, Farrell did not shower his team with praise unreservedly, noting, “We have a few areas to address, particularly our discipline.”
“Once we found some composure, I think the second half improved significantly. I’m satisfied with how we remained competitive; it was a challenging start to the match.”
The Lions are scheduled for nine matches during their first tour to Australia since 2013, with Tests set for Brisbane on July 19, Melbourne on July 26, and Sydney on August 2.
The next encounter will be against the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday.
British and Irish Lions 54 (Tomos Williams 2, Elliot Daly 2, Dan Sheehan, Garry Ringrose, Joe McCarthy, Alex Mitchell tries; Finn Russell 5 conversions, Marcus Smith 2 conversions) Western Force 7 (Nic White try; Ben Donaldson conversion). HT: 21-7. – with AP
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