Eddie Jones, former head coach of England, has advised caution regarding the rapid ascent of young back-row Henry Pollock, suggesting he should remain a replacement for upcoming matches against Argentina. Jones emphasized Pollock's exceptional talent, describing him as a "hybrid player" with the speed of a winger, the footwork of a center, and the breakdown abilities of a back-row forward. "He can do it all and that's invaluable," Jones stated.
Pollock recently scored a second-half hat-trick in England's dominant 73-8 victory over Fiji. However, Jones likened this performance to scoring "cheap runs" in cricket, where the game's outcome is already decided, suggesting it should not be the sole basis for immediate promotion to a starting role.
"The easy thing for Steve [Borthwick] now would be to jump on the Pollock bandwagon like the supporters on the basis of his Fiji treble, but I think it's best keeping him as a replacement for Argentina on Saturday and letting him continue to have positive impacts from the bench," Jones said. He believes Pollock needs time to develop the ability to influence games from the outset, a challenge distinct from making an impact when the game opens up.
Jones drew parallels between Pollock and former South African back-rower Bobby Skinstad, known for his speed. He also cited New Zealand captain Ardie Savea as a player whose evolution from a dynamic runner to a complete forward Pollock could emulate. "Pollock definitely has the potential to be that sort of player in time, so long as he focuses on the hard yards required to be successful at the highest level," Jones noted.
Jones expressed confidence in England coach Steve Borthwick's management of Pollock, stating, "Steve Borthwick is doing that very well as England coach." He also highlighted the importance of Pollock's advisors, including his signing with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom agency, and expressed hope that they would help him avoid distractions. "I hope Hearn and those close to Pollock don't allow him to get distracted," he urged.
The former coach also commented on England's recent 73-8 win over Fiji, which ended a five-match losing streak. "The Fiji scoreline would have been ideal for Steve and the squad. Now, regardless of Pollock, the challenge has to be to win in Santiago del Estero," he stated, expressing belief in England's ability to secure a series victory in Argentina, referencing their win there last summer without key players.
France's Impressive Depth
Jones also lauded the strength in depth of the French national team, particularly impressed by their performances in the Nations Championship despite the absence of numerous first-choice players, including Antoine Dupont. "France have so many good players they can pick from," Jones observed. He highlighted their exceptional ball movement and attributed their success to strong coaching by Fabien Galthie.
"The quality of France's ball movement is exceptional. To be able to play in that way with the spine of the side absent shows me that they are very, very well coached by Galthie," Jones remarked. He sees France as genuine contenders for the upcoming World Cup in Australia.
Japan's Promising Start
In his capacity as coach of Japan, Jones expressed satisfaction with the team's performance in the Nations Championship. He noted a positive start, highlighted by a victory over Italy, a side that had previously beaten Scotland and England in the Six Nations. Japan also ran Ireland close in their second match.
"To beat an Italy side who got the better of Scotland and England in the Six Nations in our first game was a really encouraging opening," Jones said. He described Japan's upcoming match against France in Tokyo as their toughest test yet.