Schalk Burger has offered a colourful assessment of England sensation Henry Pollock.
The decorated Springbok says the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year nominee may thrive on social media theatrics, but still deserves his place as a match-winner in Steve Borthwick’s squad.
WATCH: Pollock gets lippy during haka
Burger says Pollock’s off-field persona is very much a sign of the times, yet his impact off the bench makes him indispensable to England’s power game.
“It’s a different era. He’s a TikTok dancer and he plays a little bit of rugby on the weekend. His main gig is to be on social media,” Burger quipped on the Boks Unpacked podcast alongside fellow former Boks Jean de Villiers and Hanyani Shimange.
But the 2007 World Cup winner was quick to underline Pollock’s value where it matters.
“The way England set up their team, they’ve got the three loose forwards on the bench – Curry, him and Cunningham-South – he comes on and he just flies around and tries to make a big impact. It suits him to a tee,” Burger said.
MORE: Borthwick hails ‘ball of energy’ Pollock
And for Burger, that explosive energy makes Pollock undroppable.
“In that English side, he’s got to be in the 23 every weekend because he can change a game quickly.”
Pollock, 20, has become one of the most talked-about young forwards in Test rugby – and while Burger may not be fully sold on the TikTok hype, he’s crystal clear about the English rookie’s on-field potential.
Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
The post Schalla fires playful shot at TikToker Pollock appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.