England flanker Henry Pollock isn’t holding back. Fresh from dotting down the final try in the Lions’ thumping 48-0 warm-up win over an AUNZ Invitational XV, the young gun has laid out his team’s mission in no uncertain terms – a clean 3-0 sweep over Australia.
And it’s ruffled a few feathers Down Under.
“Yeah, 100 per cent,” said Pollock. “We want to come here and be the best Lions team ever. We’ve been talking about that loads and yeah, 3-0 is definitely on the table, hopefully.”
Pollock doubled down, stressing the squad’s unity and collective hunger ahead of the opening Test.
“I guess we’re all just trying to work towards the same thing. So whether you’re playing or not, we’re all striving to be the best team we can be and get that 3-0 win. If that means sitting out, then I’ll be the best team-mate I can be.”
Following their eight-try statement performance, the Lions shifted base from Adelaide to Brisbane on Sunday, with head coach Andy Farrell and his team reviewing the footage and adjusting the squad.
Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie’s head knock saw Jamie George called up late Saturday night, and now Farrell’s bolstered the front row again with Leinster’s Tom Clarkson flying in at tighthead. The Irish prop is set to feature midweek against a First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne – a game sandwiched between the first and second Tests.
That latest call-up brings Leinster’s touring tally to 14 – now level with England’s – as the battle for a historic 3-0 series win heats up.
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Four Lions stars who flopped against AUNZ XV
While the Lions cruised to a dominant 48-0 victory over the AUNZ XV, not every player impressed. Here are four stars whose performances fell short — and whose test hopes now look bleak despite the big win.
Duhan van der Merwe scored a hat-trick as the British and Irish Lions ran in eight tries in a rout of the AUNZ Invitational XV in their last game before the first Test against the Wallabies next weekend.
On an eventful night in Adelaide Owen Farrell came on as a second-half substitute, with news also emerging of a head injury to Garry Ringrose, putting him in danger of missing the match in Brisbane on Saturday.
Below, we look at four players who failed to impress.
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#1. Pierre Schoeman
Schoeman impressed in open play with strong carries and physicality but struggled at the scrum, conceding multiple free kicks for poor technique. His inconsistency at set-piece remains a key issue as test selection nears.
FloRugby 4/10: “Got busy in the loose as he got on the ball for some big rumbles. His shaky work at scrum time is what is holding him back, as he conceded a few free kicks for not driving straight. Schoeman offered solid carries and physicality in open play, but his inconsistency at the set-piece remains a concern as test selection draws nearer.”
