Henry Pollock is set to make his first Test start in Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Ireland, while captain Maro Itoje prepares to win his 100th England cap.
Northampton forward Pollock, who has made seven international appearances as a substitute, was one of three changes made by Steve Borthwick after Saturday’s 31-20 defeat to Scotland.
Pollock will start at No. 8, with Tom Curry, who comes in as a blindside flanker, returning to the starting 15. Sam Underhill and Guy Pepper will be on the bench.
“Henry is full of energy, full of personality, full of trivia and has already achieved so much in such a short period of time,” Mr Borthwick said. “He’s larger than life and every time you challenge him to a new level, he seems to grow.
“As a player, he excites people and makes them jump for joy. He can bring a sense of happiness to people that not many players can.
“I’m going to challenge him to express himself and be himself while bringing the self-sacrifice that team sports require. Do both.”
“He does it wonderfully well, so I’m looking forward to watching him do it from the get-go.”
Another change for England saw Ollie Lawrence return to the center and Tommy Freeman return to the wing in place of Tom Roebuck.
Henry Arundel has retained his wing position after avoiding a red card at Murrayfield.
Pollock is seen as a favorite among England fans and something of an adversary for opposing teams, and is seen as likely to thrive on the big stage.
“He seems to thrive on it, right? It seems like it continues to fuel more energy inside him,” Borthwick said of the player looking to discard Pollock.
“I think it’s incredible to watch him. There aren’t many players like him. We want superstars in the game.”
Henry Pollock makes his first start for England against Ireland, while Maro Itoje makes his 100th cap.
Analysis: Pollock’s “X Factor”
Sky Sports News reporter James Cole:
“Henry Pollock is one of the most exciting young talents in world rugby and deserves his first start for England.
“He’s an X-factor player. You hear that phrase a lot these days in professional sports, but it’s not a cliché when it comes to Pollock.
“Whether he has the ball or at the breakdown, he’s a threat and he makes things happen.
“The 21-year-old British and Irish Lion will bring pace and dynamism to a back-row that struggled in Edinburgh.
“Ollie Lawrence’s return to outside center should add cohesion to a defense that has been brutalized in wide channels by Finn Russell and the Scottish backline.
“Tommy Freeman, a full-fledged winger, is still learning the ropes, but of course he’s back at 14.
“Borthwick’s decision to remain with Henry Arundel after his red card at Murrayfield suggests England will play with more pace and ambition against Ireland.
“One thing is for sure: they need to commit fewer penalties and miss fewer tackles.”
Itoje earns 100 England caps
Captain Maro Itoje will lead the team at the Allianz Stadium, becoming only the ninth player to earn 100 England caps.
Borthwick said: “Reaching 100 caps for England is an incredible achievement and speaks volumes about Malo’s consistency and professionalism over the years.”
“He leads his actions every day, sets the standard for others, and truly cares about representing his country. We are all incredibly proud of what he has accomplished, and I know this will be a special day for him and his family.”
Leicester scrum-half Jacques van Poortvliet and Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith returned as substitutes, with Borthwick opting for a 6-2 split between forwards and backs.
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Sky Sports’ James Cole speaks to Ellis Genge about England’s defeat to Scotland, Henry Pollock and both teams’ next game against Ireland.
“We’re looking forward to a big game at Allianz Stadium and we’re really looking forward to it,” Borthwick added.
“We are aware of the challenges that Ireland will pose and have selected a team that we believe has the right balance to meet it.”
England national team plays against Ireland
Starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Henry Arundel, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell. 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Joe Hayes, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 5 Ollie Chetham, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Henry Pollock.
Substitutes: 16 Jamie George, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Guy Pepper, 21 Sam Underhill, 22 Jacques van Portvliet, 23 Marcus Smith.
England 2026 Six Nations fixtures
always UK and Ireland
England 48-7 Wales (Saturday 7 February) – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham Scotland 31-20 England (Saturday 14 February) – Murrayfield v Ireland (Saturday 21 February) – Twickenham, Allianz Stadium (2.10pm) vs Italy (Saturday 7 March) – Rome, Stadio Olimpico (4.40pm) vs France (Saturday 14th March) – Stade de France, Paris (8:10pm)
