Henry Pollock has been warned that the scrutiny around him will only get sharper when England face South Africa in the opening round of the Rugby Nations Championship this summer. Jim Hamilton said the Northampton forward will have a "massive target on his back" against nations such as South Africa, and added that games like these are the stage on which Pollock can make the biggest statement to the rugby world.
Hamilton made the comments this week on the RugbyPod after Pollock's derby defeat to Leicester, a match that also showed how quickly a promising player can find himself at the centre of the fight. Pollock came on from the bench when Northampton had no hookers on the pitch, was asked to throw into the lineout, and his throws were not straight, which led to penalties against his side. He also clashed with Hanro Liebenberg after one of those throws, and referee Matt Carley gave him a stern warning after some of his antics.
The episode mattered because Pollock has become one of the most recognisable faces in the game, and that brings a different kind of attention before a ball is even kicked. Hamilton and former England full-back Ugo Monye Goode believe that opposition fans often try to wind Pollock up and get a reaction from him, while referees and opposing players may now be looking at him more closely because of the reputation he has built around his on-field behaviour. That extra focus has only grown after Pollock signed for Eddie Hearn's talent agency, Matchroom, this year.
For England, the immediate test is not publicity but South Africa's physical edge, and that is where Pollock's response will matter most. Hamilton said he thinks this is the sort of game where players like Pollock can really prove themselves, and if he stands up to the challenge in South Africa this summer, it will tell the rugby world more about him than any headline or sideline spat ever could.
