Freeman says England rising star Pollock knew he'd score a Six Nations debut try against Wales / Photo: Adrian Dennis - AFP
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Freeman says England rising star Pollock knew he'd score a Six Nations debut try against Wales
England newcomer Henry Pollock forecast he would score his first Test try on the wing and even planned his celebration the night before, according to team-mate Tommy Freeman.
The 20-year-old Northampton back-row came off the bench to make his England debut in Saturday's 68-14 Six Nations rout of Wales in Cardiff.
Pollock underlined England's pulverising performance at the Principality Stadium with two late tries in a match where England crossed the Welsh line a remarkable 10 times.
With his first try, scored just inside the touchline following a sublime pass from veteran replacement fly-half George Ford, he became England's youngest men's Six Nations try-scorer, eclipsing wing Henry Arundell by 36 days.
Pollock has long been spoken of as one of English rugby's rising star and his latest feats came as no surprise to Northampton team-mate Freeman, who set his own record as the first England player to score a try in every game of a Six Nations campaign when he too went over the line on Saturday.
"He is unbelievable," Freeman said of Pollock. "I don't want to big him up too much, but honestly, he brings some sort of energy like you have never seen before for a 20-year-old.
"I remember my first game I was shaking in the corner, all nervous. But this guy, nothing fazes him. I remember (Friday) night as well.
- 'Special kid' -
"He was in my room telling me about he was going to get his first try on the wing –- and then he gets it. He was doing the try celebrations as well in the room, showed me what he was going to do," added Freeman, himself only 24.
"But that is the type of guy he is, and fair play to him, he backs it up and he has got a big career ahead of him. That kid is pretty, pretty special, and he will continue to be, I am sure."
England were in complete command when Pollock took the field. But the loose forward still made his presence felt during a 30-minute stint on the pitch, although even this crushing victory was not enough to prevent France taking the title, with England close behind in second place.
"I wanted to come into this environment and be myself, whether that is giving energy on the pitch or energy in training, and I hope I did that," said Pollock.
He added: "I was just so excited to get out there. What an amazing stadium to win my first cap in... They (England's senior players) wanted me to come into the environment and be myself. They gave me the freedom to do that. I am so grateful for that."
Freeman, switched from wing to centre against Wales, is one of only three players to score a try in every round of a Six Nations campaign, with France's Louis Bielle-Biarrey joining him this year in equalling the 2001 feat of Les Bleus wing Philippe Bernat-Salles.
"It's pretty special," said Freeman. "I tried not to think about it too much... I was happy to get over the line."
M.F.Schmitz--JdB
