Former Springboks star Steven Kitshoff admits that his opinion on young back-rower Henry Pollock has changed after his performance last weekend.
The 20-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise since playing a key role in England’s World Rugby U20 Championship victory in July 2024.
In the 12 months that followed, Pollock established himself in the Northampton Saints first team, made his Test debut and went on tour with the British and Irish Lions.
He hopes not to endure ‘second season syndrome’ in 2025/26, but the signs are so far positive for the youngster.
Superb Investec Champions Cup display
Having impressed during England’s November campaign, he returned to the Saints and produced an exceptional display in their Investec Champions Cup triumph over the Bulls.
Following the end-of-year international series, South Africans have wanted to see him taken down a peg or two, and the Pretoria outfit had their chance when they visited England, but they had no answer to the number eight.
Kitshoff has been a critic of Pollock’s on-field antics and, while he still doesn’t like that aspect of his game, the Boks great cannot deny his talent.
“Everyone’s been saying for many weeks since the English played against the All Blacks that we just want to have one full go at Henry Pollock and then he puts up a performance like that,” he said on the GameTime podcast.
“I take back everything I said about the guy, he’s bloody good. I love him.”
Kitshoff was joined on the show by co-host Joshua Eady, who said: “Phenomenal player, it’s the attitude thing for us, but it’s also the attitude thing because he’s young, he’s up and coming, he’s ruffling feathers and getting under people’s skin.
“Not to take away anything, that was an incredible performance. You had George Hendy with the hat-trick, all three of those tries came from Henry Pollock’s assist in some way or another.”
Kitshoff then wanted to clarify his position, adding: “Just for the viewers, we like Henry Pollock the way that he plays, we just don’t always like what he does on the camera.
“It’s because we’re old school and we’re South African, and we want guys to be hard.”
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Weakened Bulls team
It was not necessarily the toughest test Pollock will ever have, however, with the Bulls fielding a weakened team due to the travel factor and this weekend’s game against the Sharks.
Johan Ackermann’s men have three big derbies over the Christmas and New Year period, with a double-header to come against the Stormers.
“Do you save your team for a big URC clash against the Sharks or do you send a full-strength team away from home? Travel to the UK, play Northampton, not 100 per cent sure of what the result is going to be – you send your full-strength team and you might also take 50 points,” Kitshoff said.
“Guys would then come tired back home and have to play against the Sharks. There’s the management of the squad but there’s also the pride in playing.”