England greats Anthony Watson and Dan Cole have defended Red Rose star Henry Pollock after he was targeted by Union Bordeaux-Begles’ fans and players during their 50-28 Investec Champions Cup win over Northampton Saints at Stade Chaban-Delmas on Sunday.
With this fixture being a repeat of last season’s Champions Cup final – which UBB won 28-20 in Cardiff – there was plenty of hype ahead of the clash.
Adding spice to the fixture was the presence of back-rower Pollock, who was involved in an ugly incident at the full-time whistle in that final in which several Bordeaux players got involved in a scuffle with the 20-year-old Saints star.
Pollock seemingly had his throat grabbed by UBB front-row Jefferson Poirot, who was cited for an act contrary to good sportsmanship, and after appearing before a disciplinary panel, he received a two-match suspension.
Bordeaux’s players also mocked Pollock’s trademark “pulse check” celebration following their victory in Cardiff.
Pollock was in the thick of the action again in Sunday’s eagerly anticipated clash and showed his class by scoring a brace of tries for Northampton but despite his efforts, he was still booed by the home side’s spectators.
Appearing on the For the Love of Rugby podcast, while reviewing round three of the Investec Champions Cup, Watson raised the issue of the crowd behaviour towards Pollock.
‘Nobody boos players they don’t respect’
“I just want to draw your attention, Coley, to a quote from the post-game from Phil Dowson, who said: ‘Nobody boos rubbish players. Nobody boos players they don’t respect’.
“Now, I don’t want to draw the conclusion, but I think he’s talking about Henry Pollock here. So what’s your take on that?”
Cole responded by saying that he gets the impression that Pollock is not bothered by the extra attention which he receives and feels that the 20-year-old actually thrives on it.
“Like Pollock, he is what he is. And I think like the media attention around him, what drives it and that kind of stuff,” said the former England and Leicester Tigers tighthead prop.
“He loves it. And that’s who he is. He scores a try today and he gives his celebration. He’s obviously been gagging probably since the Investec final last year to wanting to do that in Bordeaux to 34,000 people.
“And that’s what he is. And it gets the crowd going and he probably loves that.
“As an opposition team, opposition player, like if they find motivation in it, then as Bordeaux did it in the final last year, they obviously picked on it and went after it.
“And it’s just like, it’s the game and people find different motivation, different spots. And as the game moves forward, you get more things around the game and the crowd can boo if they want. They can cheer if they want, you know what I mean?
“Like freedom of choice, do that, whatever. And Pollock is who he is and he accepts that and he doesn’t hide behind it. And he shouldn’t.
“And he accepts, I think he almost wants to bring it on, doesn’t he? Which then probably invites more boos and stuff.”
Cole believes Pollock’s ability as a player will eventually convert his current detractors into supporters and used the example of former England captain Owen Farrell to illustrate that it has happened previously.
“But at some point it’ll swing around. We saw people like Owen Farrell who were probably a bit different, whereas he went from being incredibly disliked during the World Cup and after the World Cup, as in it totally shifted, the whole narrative around him shifted,” he added.
‘The boos are temporary’
“So, you know what I mean? The boos are temporary. I think like they are what they are now, but in the future, there’ll be massive cheers and there are already cheers for him.
“So, it all works out in the end.”
Former Red Rose and Leicester Tigers flyer Watson agreed and said Pollock is the type of player which the game needs, although he admitted that he is surprised by the lengths which UBB’s players have gone to in a bid to antagonise the Saints star.
“I think that regardless, I think it’s still good for the game. You know, whether it’s fair or not on Henry, only he can kind of say how it makes him feel,” he said.
“But I think from eyes on the game and drama, which I think rugby needs and the personalities that rugby needs, I think it’s amazing.
“I actually think the people who have taken it really far are the Bordeaux players. Some of them screaming in his face and stuff. Look, I can get a bit of, not hatred, but I can get a subtle bit of trying to prove a point.
“But all 15 blokes look like they’re on it. Like there was about four of them trying to clean him out at every breakdown. Screaming in his face when he knocked the ball on, like it was just a bit OTT (over the top) for me, I thought.
“But fair play to him for rising up to the challenge and still, like I said, showing what he can do.”
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