Pollock demands England starting shirt after hat-trick dismantles Fiji

Henry Pollock scored a hat-trick as England demolished Fiji 73-8 at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, and the 21-year-old has made clear he wants a starting place in Steve Borthwick’s back row — not just the high-impact replacement role he has filled for 11 of his 12 caps.

Pollock’s three electric finishes lifted his Test tally to six tries in 12 appearances, and the reaction from former England players was immediate. Chris Ashton’s verdict was blunt — “stop messing about and put him in” — while Ben Youngs added: “just start him, please.” Jeremy Guscott was among the other ex-internationals to join the chorus.

Borthwick hinted after the final whistle that Pollock would remain a bench option for now, but the player himself is pushing for more. “A big thing for me at the minute is wanting to get that starting shirt,” Pollock said. “Steve said to me before the Fiji game to just go out there and be myself. I hope I did that and hope he saw enough in me. But at the same time, the depth in the squad is crazy good, so I’m happy with any role I’m playing as long as I’m in the team.”

Pollock completed his hat-trick in the closing seconds and celebrated with Jude Bellingham’s trademark outstretched-arms pose. Beyond the headline moments, he also contributed at the breakdown and in the tight exchanges, reinforcing his case as more than a finisher. “It is like a unique thing where I’m able to back myself like that,” he said. “I’m enjoying my rugby. I’m very confident in myself and trust my ability.”

Saturday’s match against Argentina is Pollock’s last chance to press his claim before the autumn series, making Borthwick’s selection decision on Thursday one of the most scrutinised of his tenure.

A secondary selection question concerns Marcus Smith, who came off the bench to cover scrum-half after Alex Mitchell suffered a hamstring injury against Fiji. Smith, who has never trained in the position with England, impressed sufficiently that Borthwick may consider a seven-one forward-to-back split on the bench, using the Harlequins playmaker as cover across fly-half, full-back and scrum-half. “I played at scrum-half growing up at school in Singapore and the Philippines,” Smith said. “If it was agreed with the coaches, of course I’d be happy as cover.”

Raffi Quirke has been called into the squad to replace Mitchell, who will not travel with the group.