What does Rassie think of England, breakout star Henry Pollock?
· The South African
The Springboks couldn’t ask for a much more high profile start to the 2026 Test season than taking on an England team that will have plenty to prove when they take on Rassie Erasmus’ world champions next weekend.
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England arrive on South African soil with an air of unpredictability about them, while there will be plenty of headlines written about rising star Henry Pollock, who is a new age star who is blessed with prodigious talent, but who also posseses a maverick spirit that has made him a polarising figure in many ways.
Before touching down in Mzansi, England coach Steve Borthwick named a 36-man squad that includes five uncapped players, but is without Maro Itoje, who has been rested.
“The England squad is good – their average age is about 27, and Test caps around 32, so it’s a young yet experienced squad,” Rassie Erasmus commented this week.
“There are a few older players in their 30s, which brings the experience, but the young guys will add fearlessness into a team that was in the World Cup semi-final (in 2023), and who have competed really well off the back of the Premiership.
“It’s a very competitive squad, and we know we’ll have to work really hard against them at Ellis Park next week if we want to get a win.”
Rassie raves about new England star Henry Pollock
When quizzed about England loose forward Henry Pollock’s inclusion in their squad, Erasmus talked up the young loose forward.
“He’s like Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. People make a big deal about certain players, but I don’t always think the players themselves want that attention.
“What counts is what they do on the field, and recently, he’s been doing that. If I were coaching him, I’d only look at his output, and that has been exceptional.”
England Nations Championship squad
Forwards: Ollie Chessum, Arthur Clark, Alex Coles, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry, Theo Dan, Ben Earl, Charlie Ewels, Greg Fisilau, Ellis Genge, Jamie George (c), Joe Heyes, Ted Hill, George Kloska, George Martin, Beno Obano, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Guy Pepper, Henry Pollock, Vilikesa Sela.
Backs: Seb Atkinson, Noah Caluori, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, George Ford, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Alex Mitchell, Cadan Murley, Max Ojomoh, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer, Freddie Steward, Jack van Poortvliet.
Bok squad
Props: Thomas du Toit (Bath), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Ntuthuko Mchunu (Stormers), Ox Nche (Sharks), Zachary Porthen (Stormers), Carlu Sadie (Bordeaux Bègles), Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh).
Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Andre-Hugo Venter (Stormers).
Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Ruben van Heerden (Stormers).
Loose forwards: Paul de Villiers (Stormers), Ben-Jason Dixon (Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Bulls), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Evan Roos (Stormers), Vincent Tshituka (Sharks), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Utility forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Riley Norton (Stormers), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Bulls).
Scrumhalves: Embrose Papier (Bulls), Herschel Jantjies (Bayonne), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Grant Williams (Sharks).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Vusi Moyo (Sharks), Handre Pollard (Bulls).
Centres: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).
Outside and utility backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Quan Horn (Lions), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Jaco Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers).