Sir Clive Woodward drops controversial Henry Pollock verdict

Monday, 17 November 2025 at 07:23

byRugby Rucker

Sir Clive Woodward has urged Steve Borthwick to stay firm over the Henry Pollock debate, insisting the in-form youngster should remain on the bench despite his explosive impact throughout England’s unbeaten autumn.

Pollock has been a standout performer in the wins over Australia, Fiji and New Zealand, but Woodward believes England’s head coach has crafted a winning formula—one that shouldn’t be tampered with just to satisfy public demand.

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Reflecting on the latest victory, Woodward praised the collective effort and the influence of the replacements:

“Once again, Pollock and the bench were outstanding. This was a 23-man effort with strong performances across the board,” he wrote in his column for Mail Online.

He noted that England’s three autumn victories have followed the same pattern, with the bench—led by Pollock—driving the final-quarter surge.

“As against Australia and Fiji, England’s bench – led by Pollock – was outstanding, providing real impetus.”

Woodward admitted Borthwick’s strategy goes against his own instincts as a former coach, particularly when big names are held back.

“Starting some of your best players on the bench – for example Ellis Genge – goes against everything I believed as a coach. But it is quite clearly working and working brilliantly.”

He even shared a pre-match exchange with former England lock Ben Kay:

“I asked Ben if he’d had been happy to start as a substitute. His response was short and to the point!”

Woodward said the punchline “can probably be imagined,” but argued Borthwick deserves serious credit for reshaping England’s approach after last autumn’s struggles to close out tight matches.

“They weakened in the final quarter to lose narrowly. Now, the opposite is true with guys like Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry and Pollock really taking the level of England’s performance up another notch when they come on.”

Pollock’s rise has inevitably sparked calls for him to start, but Woodward pushed back firmly.

“Pollock gets plenty of headlines and he was excellent once again. I’m sure there will be clamour for him and others to start.”

But for him, the answer is simple:

“I don’t see why Borthwick should change up a winning formula. Pollock and Co will likely have to be happy with remaining on the bench for now and that is the right move because it is for the good of the team.”

And with England now cruising into a position of strength, Woodward believes this could be the moment the side truly takes off.

“I wrote before the game that should England come out on top, it would represent lift-off for the team. And given the nature of the final score line, that is very much the case. England have really got something to really build on now.”

EDITORS PICKS:

Autumn team of the week: England dominated the XV

After reviewing every clash, here is RUCK’s definitive Team of the Week.

Full-Time Results

Autumn Team Of The Week:

1. Jean-Baptiste Gros (France)

Gros delivered the kind of rugged, heavy-duty shift France expect from him. He repeatedly knocked back Fijian carriers and anchored the scrum with real authority. Sixteen tackles in 50 minutes shows the level of graft he put in. A solid, steel-edged performance from the Toulon prop.

2. Johan Grobbelaar (South Africa)

Grobbelaar’s work rate was immense from first minute to last. He scrummed strongly, hit his man at the lineout and carried with real purpose, including a clean line break. His late breakdown steal under pressure was a huge moment. A hardworking display that strengthens his claim to the jersey.

3. Joe Heyes (England)

Heyes is stitching together the kind of physical, no-nonsense performances coaches love. He hammered into tackles, held firm in the scrum and refused to yield against a powerful All Blacks front row. The tighthead looks more assured with every outing. A young prop on a rapid upward trajectory.

4. Maro Itoje (England)

Itoje bossed the collision zone and led England’s defensive effort with trademark intensity. His 22 tackles set the standard and his breakdown pressure repeatedly disrupted New Zealand. A textbook strip on Codie Taylor sparked one of the game’s biggest moments. Apart from the lineout wobble, he was exceptional.

5. James Ryan (Ireland)

Ryan walked the tightrope of physicality but remained at the centre of everything Ireland did well. He carried hard, tackled relentlessly and kept the breakdown hot with constant pressure. A couple of penalties tarnished the outing, but the intent never dropped. A gritty, full-blooded shift from the Leinster lock.

6. Santiago Grondona (Argentina)

Grondona combined high-intensity defence with smart support play throughout. His line break shifted momentum in Argentina’s favour and he stayed involved in every major passage. He tackled decisively and carried with purpose when required. A complete, hard-edged performance on both sides of the ball.

7. Alex Mann (Wales)

Mann stepped up superbly in Jac Morgan’s absence and never looked out of place. He made 20 tackles, carried strongly and won two crucial turnovers. His involvement in the final defensive stand was decisive. Wales’ standout performer in a tense victory.

8. Caelan Doris (Ireland)

Doris may have been out of position on the openside, but his influence was everywhere. He carried with real force, dominated gainline moments and finished the match with a crucial try. His defensive coverage was equally reliable. A typically authoritative showing from one of Ireland’s leaders.

9. Morne van den Berg (South Africa)

Van den Berg mixed sharp attacking touches with outstanding game control. His try showcased impressive strength for a smaller scrum-half, and he guided the pack calmly after the red card. His kicking from hand provided territory when the Boks needed it. Easily one of his best Tests to date.

10. George Ford (England)

Ford ran the game with the intelligence and precision we’ve come to expect. His spiral bomb created early panic, while back-to-back drop goals dragged England back into the contest. He controlled the second half with cool authority, even if his goal-kicking wavered. Another masterclass from England’s conductor-in-chief.

11. Jiuta Wainiqolo (Fiji)

Wainiqolo was a threat every time he got the ball, constantly bending the French defence. His try early in the second half was pure brilliance, blending power and agility. He made several line breaks and always demanded multiple tacklers. A livewire performance full of danger.

12. Fraser Dingwall (England)

Dingwall produced his sharpest display of the autumn so far. His dummy-and-pass assist showed brilliant feel, and his own try came from excellent support play. He linked beautifully with Lawrence in midfield to keep England flowing. A confident, polished performance from the centre.

13. Ollie Lawrence (England)

Lawrence looked back to his bulldozing best, carrying with real venom. His try—bouncing off Will Jordan—was a highlight, and his assist for Dingwall was perfectly timed. He defended aggressively and stayed involved throughout. A complete midfield outing.

14. Mack Hansen (Ireland)

Hansen returned with a bang, immediately dominating the air with an AFL-style take. His hat-trick inside half an hour showed his finishing instincts and positional intelligence. He remained a lively presence in open play even with a couple of errors. A superb return to starting duties.

15. Damian Willemse (South Africa)

Willemse was excellent under the high ball and constantly controlled the backfield space. His kick to the corner set up the Boks’ first points and he counter-attacked with real menace. He beat defenders with ease and made strong territorial decisions throughout. Another outstanding all-round display from the Springbok star.

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