‘Pollock must embrace villain tag’
Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson believes Henry Pollock will learn to handle becoming rugby’s latest “hate figure”.
Saints are getting ready to face Bordeaux Bègles in a rematch of last season’s Investec Champions Cup final.
Pollock is expected to be front and centre at the Stade Chaban-Delmas after Bordeaux players mocked his trademark “pulse check” celebration following their 28-20 victory in Cardiff. The incident came after a heated post-match confrontation in which the 20-year-old was grabbed around the neck.
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Dowson is braced for an “ugly” reception for the young back-rower in France, but believes that sort of hostility is often reserved for players who truly matter.
“I think as Henry matures, he is going to have to take these occasions on,” Dowson told Telegraph Sport.
“What are the options? You don’t pick him because you are worried the crowd is going to be vociferous?
“He is going to have to go into that with an expectation of how he is going to be received but also an understanding of if you make that noise, you’re going to get this reaction.
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“It always goes back to how you play because they might hate you, but at some point they will respect you because you’re so good. Loads of people didn’t like David Beckham, loads of people didn’t like Owen Farrell, loads of people didn’t like Tom Brady. More often than not it was because they were really good.”
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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