'I love seeing that' – Ugo Monye adamant 20-year-old deserves British and Irish Lions spot
'I love seeing that' – Ugo Monye adamant 20-year-old deserves British and Irish Lions spot
Former British and Irish Lions tourist Ugo Monye has called for 20-year-old prodigy Henry Pollock to travel to Australia this summer despite concerns around his lack of experience
Former British and Irish Lions star Ugo Monye is pulling for Henry Pollock to tour Australia this summer
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Anticipation is building ahead of Thursday's British and Irish Lions squad announcement, and there's one name in particular that Ugo Monye is desperate to see included. And he won't be the only one across the British Isles rooting for 20-year-old Henry Pollock to land a spot on the plane to Australia.
Fresh from a tide-turning performance against Irish superpower Leinster in the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup, Pollock's stock is higher than ever. It was his run-in to score from the halfway line that helped make the difference in a historic 37-34 win for Northampton, who will return to the continental showpiece for the first time since 2011 as a result.
Having only become part of Phil Dowson's first-team set-up this season, the back-rower boasts a remarkable 12 tries from just 24 appearances for club and country this season. And two of those came as a substitute when he made his senior England debut against Wales during the Six Nations.
Pollock will hope head coach Andy Farrell bears in mind the words of Manchester United icon Sir Matt Busby when picking his final selection. It was the late manager who famously said "if you're good enough, you're old enough," and Pollock has surely demonstrated that he meets the standard.
"He was excited. He was relishing it," Monye told Wales Online while discussing Pollock's latest star turn ahead of Lions announcement week. "His first involvement was to shoulder charge former World Player of the Year Josh van der Flier. It was a daft penalty, but it was a statement. That was the biggest thing. It was like, 'Right, I'm here. I can mix it with the big boys.'
"His try is outrageous. His try is absolutely obscene. But the confidence with 45 metres to go. I reckon I could do it with five metres. I love seeing that from wingers, and I don't see it enough, let alone a 20-year-old playing European rugby."
Pollock continues to shatter expectations after a Player of the Match-worthy performance in Northampton's iconic win over Leinster
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Ex-Harlequins winger Monye - who finished as the Lions' top try-scorer on their 2009 tour of South Africa - went on to highlight how Pollock is no longer exceeding expectations. However, that's only because the youngster has been so consistent in his work that excellence is what viewers have come to expect.
The last 12 months have been a whirlwind for the Banbury-born flanker, who spent a short spell on loan with Bedford last season before Saints truly appreciated the talent they had. And despite only having a single international cap to his name, the former England under-18 captain could feasibly end this summer with more appearances for the Lions than his own country.
Yet there are only around 37 places up for grabs, and approximately seven of those will be dedicated to the back row. England alone have a wealth of other candidates in the likes of Tom Willis, Ben Earl and the Curry brother, Ben and Tom.
Farrell will be expected to take a hefty contingent from his Ireland squad, with Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan almost shoo-ins. That's without mentioning Wales skipper Jac Morgan, or Scottish options like Rory Darge, Jamie Ritchie and Jack Dempsey, who was born and raised in Sydney.
The back-rower scored twice in his senior England debut against Wales, not long after his 20th birthday
(Image: Dan Mullan - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images )
The competition is exceedingly high in his position, and yet Pollock still represents something "unique", according to Monye. The Saints star has obliterated every challenge and obstacle put in his path to date, so there's little reason to believe Joe Schmidt's Wallabies would be the one to stop him.
Pollock might play with a boyish smile often plastered across his face, but his impact is often of a man far beyond his years. And it's Monye's hope that the one statistic that isn't taken into account when deciding the Lions squad is his age.
"I think we've also got to respect that he is still a young man, and there are still parts of his game where he can improve," he added. "But every single 20-year-old playing rugby can get better, and I'm excited to see what the finished version of him looks like.
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"The level he has set, there aren't many that capture your attention [like that]. But Henry Pollock is real, he's here to stay, and it's all underpinned with an unbelievable work rate and competitive edge. He is playing at a level that is completely unignorable right now."
Ugo Monye was speaking on behalf of Genting Casino. For a chance to roar the Lions on in Melbourne and Sydney, then head over to Genting Casino LIONS TOUR 18+BeGambleAware
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