LONDON — Henry Pollock came on at halftime and scored two tries in as many minutes as a makeshift winger to lead England to a 45-22 win over Australia in Nations Championship rugby on Sunday.
The most talked-about player in English rugby grabbed the headlines again with a second-half performance that highlighted both his versatility and explosiveness, while also wrapping up a significant victory for England coach Steve Borthwick following pre-match reports of player unrest and rifts in the squad.
England, which sealed a third win in four games of the inaugural global tournament, had seven tries in total at Twickenham on the way to scoring more points than ever before against Australia. The first was scored by hooker Jamie George, who became the most prolific try-scoring England forward in test history with 18.
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Ollie Chessum and Joe Heyes, two more members of England’s pack, also went over in the first half before Max Jorgensen’s interception try from inside his own half gave Australia hope at halftime at 19-10.
After England scrumhalf Jack van Poortvliet - to blame for Jorgensen’s score because of an errant pass - made amends with his own try, it turned into the Pollock show.
The back-row forward with a distinguishable headband and shock of blond hair came on as an emergency winger following an injury to Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, and made an instant impact with a left-wing surge that set up Van Poortvliet’s try.
He then crossed himself in the 55th after collecting a mispass to the right wing and cutting through Australia’s defensive line to score.
Pollock went over again in the 57th and was soon thrilling the Twickenham crowd by kicking the ball through an opponent’s legs as he made another break down the wing.
Ben Spencer wrapped up England’s try haul in the 76th, after Filipo Daugunu and Jeremy Williams added their own for the Australians.
England has more tests against Japan and New Zealand at Twickenham over the next two weekends, before the playoff finals at the same stadium from Nov. 27-29. Borthwick’s team beat Argentina and Fiji in July, while also losing to South Africa.
Australia plays Scotland and Wales next.
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