Articles by Duncan Bech

Technology

Steve Borthwick hails energy and impact of Henry Pollock against Australia

England head coach Steve Borthwick was delighted with the energy brought by Henry Pollock after seeing the back-row sensation run in a crucial try against Australia. The Wallabies were dispatched 25-7 at Allianz Stadium with the introduction of England’s heavyweight bench, which included five British and Irish Lions forwards arriving en masse in the 52nd minute, proving decisive. Pollock was the first to make an impact when he showed superb hands to gather a loose ball before racing clear and recovering from an ankle tap to fall over the line. It was the 20-year-old’s third Test try in two replacement appearances and crucially it propelled his side 15-7 ahead at a point when they game was finely poised. “Everybody’s excited when Henry Pollock gets on to the pitch because of what he brings, there’s no doubt about that,” Borthwick said. “He’s probably the most excited person! The way he is and the energy he brings – he’s a ball of energy. “I love having that character in the squad. We’ve got a great blend of personalities developing within the team.” Fiji are the next visitors to Twickenham in the second of November’s four Tests and Borthwick admitted the performance of his replacements will make team selection trickier next week. “The bench certainly had a positive impact. It’s a sign that the squad is building in depth,” Borthwick said. “It was an important summer for English rugby with a number of players away with the Lions, who were successful down in Australia, as well as a number away in Argentina and America with England. “It’s enabled the squad to grow and that’s pleasing. It means I’ve got some difficult decisions to make. It’s the exact decisions you want as a head coach.” England should have been out of sight by half-time but they wasted a series of chances, including Joe Heyes and Ben Earl being held up over the line. “There were a big number of line breaks out there and that was a step forward. Finishing them off was not quite our strength though,” Borthwick said. “With the amount of rain that came down today and overnight, the pitch was really greasy and that was a contributory factor as well. “We made some tactical switches during the game to find ways to win – that tells me the team is thinking their way through a game.” Full-back Freddie Steward suffered a hand injury but Borthwick was unable to provide an update on his fitness. Australia head coach Joe Schmidt admitted the introduction of England’s reinforcements swung the match in the hosts’ favour. “It was very tough and there were a few lessons out there. We’re all disappointed,” Schmidt said. “England’s bench really made a difference because of the intensity and physical combat they brought. Until that time the game was in the balance. “Six British and Irish Lions on the bench – that’s strength in depth. England were very, very good, but it wasn’t like we were utterly outplayed.” Schmidt described England’s decision to draw the match officials’ attention to alleged illegal breakdown tactics by Australia in the build-up to the game as “a bit of gamesmanship”. “I always find those things disappointing, but not distracting,” Schmidt added.

Technology

Alex Mitchell backs Tommy Freeman to make seamless transition to outside centre

Alex Mitchell is backing Tommy Freeman to make a seamless transition to outside centre if his Northampton team-mate is repositioned in England’s backline for Saturday’s autumn opener against Australia. Freeman has won the bulk of his 21 caps as a wing, where he also made three Test appearances for the British and Irish Lions over the summer, but he is expected to be moved to 13 for the Allianz Stadium clash. The 24-year-old try machine sees his long-term future at outside centre and – having started there against Wales in March because of an injury to Ollie Lawrence – head coach Steve Borthwick appears ready to accelerate his midfield transition. Freeman ran in four tries for Saints against Saracens on Friday and Mitchell said: “Tommy’s confidence is through the roof and his form is amazing. “He will be as good at 13 as he is on the wing and it’s going to be exciting to see him go there and see how he pushes on. “It’s a different position and he appreciates that, but not too much changes with him – he will just want to get the ball in his hands and try to get over people and get past people. “He’s got the speed, the power, the height. He understands the game. We know that if he puts that all together, he’s one hell of a player. He’s showing that at the moment.”

Technology

Luke Cowan-Dickie admits he feared he would never join England’s 50-cap club

Luke Cowan-Dickie is poised to join England’s 50-cap club admitting injury and an encounter with rugby’s judiciary left him fearing the day would never come. Cowan-Dickie will reach the milestone against Australia in Saturday’s autumn opener at Allianz Stadium in what will be a triumph of resilience having made his Test debut in 2015. Two years ago, he suffered nerve damage in his right arm when a routine decompression surgery to his neck went wrong and it was 16 months before he could play at a reasonable level. An episode of the heart condition atrial fibrillation when playing for Sale also caused alarm, while last week he faced a disciplinary hearing after receiving a 20-minute red card for a dangerous tackle on Saracens’ Tom Willis. The charges against the 32-year-old British and Irish Lions hooker were dropped. “I’ve stuck around – they don’t call me the cockroach for no reason!” said Cowan-Dickie, whose arm strength is still only at 70 per cent. “I’ve had a lot of injuries. In the past I’ve played through injuries and made them worse and had operations. “Do I think it was bad to do? Maybe, but would I be here today if I didn’t? Maybe not. I think it’s made me robust. “My pain threshold is decent so I can crack on through most things. I’m just thankful. Playing for England once is a dream so potentially playing my 50th it’s like ‘wow’, who would have thought it? “A couple of years ago I didn’t think I would be in this room again. When I first got back playing, I couldn’t bicep curl four kilos and I could not lateral raise two kilos. I had my shoulder strapped with pads all over it. “I got back playing in the Prem and for me that was brilliant as I was back playing rugby. “I need rugby as much as rugby needs me. I love it. I didn’t really have much else. To get back playing for Sale was step one. Caps weren’t really in my mind then but it has crept up.” Willis played a role in Cowan-Dickie being cleared to take part in England’s autumn campaign when the Saracens number eight explained to the disciplinary hearing there had been no head contact during the tackle. “I was nervous as hell. It is probably the most nervous I have been sat on the zoom call for this hearing,” Cowan-Dickie said. “I honestly thought I was in some serious trouble so I was quite worried even though it was only for a tackle. The relief after was great.” Cowan-Dickie won the bulk of his caps under Eddie Jones, who was in charge of England from 2016 to 2022, and recalls the character-building early morning conditioning sessions. “With every coach young players always get tested. It’s how you handle the test,” he said. “There were times with Eddie when he’d have the young players up at 5.30am doing bacon and eggs, which is extra fitness or contact. “When it first came on the schedule I was like “phwoah, bacon and eggs” and was really happy. Then I realised what it was and we just got our arses kicked. Again, it’s made me who I am today.”