Henry Pollock has been taking inspiration from the Boston Red Sox ahead of Northampton's daunting Investec Champions Cup semi-final against mighty Leinster.
Pollock has enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough season, with the 20-year-old’s performances in the competition – including two tries in the quarter-final against Castres – seeing him nominated for European player of the year.
Saints are huge underdogs as they travel to Dublin on Saturday to take on a Leinster side packed with world-class talent (5.30pm, live on RTÉ).
But director of rugby Phil Dowson has been using Boston’s unlikely 2004 World Series baseball title win – their first in 86 years – to illustrate what Pollock and his team-mates can achieve.
"We watched a film about the 2004 Red Sox and it said 'no occasion is too big for him’, and that’s what I feel about Henry Pollock," said Dowson.
"He’s mad for it. That’s what’s great. You often have young players who might be overawed, but he just feeds off it."
On their way to winning the World Series, the Red Sox were 3-0 down and trailing in the ninth inning of the fourth game against New York Yankees, but pulled off a famous comeback to win in seven.
Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson believes Leinster will prove a tough challenge when the sides meet in Dublin on Saturday for a place in this year's Champions Cup final. #rterugby pic.twitter.com/SVmqQ82CR7
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 29, 2025
"We’ve spoken about them and been watching videos of them," said Pollock. "It’s the confidence aspect. Like, you’re never really out of it.
"Our season hasn’t gone to plan, we’ve been unlucky in the Premiership, we’ve used Europe as a springboard and done really well. We are feeling confident.
"I don’t want to go into my shell, I guess. I just want to be myself, I’m looking forward to it and it should be class."
Pollock scored two tries on his England debut against Wales in March and is already being tipped as an outsider for this summer’s Lions tour.
Self-confidence is definitely not an issue, with the flanker already ruffling feathers with some flamboyant try celebrations.
"I’m just being myself I guess. If you like it, you like it, if you don’t, don’t watch it," he said.
"It does come with a target on your head, but I am just trying to enjoy my rugby, I relish those moments anyway, so that’s it."
Northampton Saints: James Ramm; Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall (capt) Rory Hutchinson, Tom Litchfield; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Emmanuel Iyogun, Curtis Langdon, Trevor Davison; Temo Mayanavanua, Alex Coles; Josh Kemeny, Henry Pollock, Juarno Augustus.
Replacements: Henry Walker, Tom West, Elliot Millar-Mills, Tom Lockett, Chunya Munga, Angus Scott-Young, Tom James, Tom Seabrook.
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Watch the Champions Cup semi-final, Leinster v Northampton Saints, on Saturday from 4.45pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
