Henry Pollock outlines keys to getting into British & Irish Lions starting XV, Tommy Freeman says 'electric, powerful' Australia 'won't stop fighting'
Published 17/06/2025 at 12:04 GMT+1
The British & Irish Lions will soon be flying down under to take on Australia over three Test matches, eyeing a repeat of 2013 when they beat their green and gold foes 2-1. That was the last time the Lions won a series outright, having since drawn with New Zealand in 2017 and lost to South Africa in 2021. Young England tourists Henry Pollock and Tommy Freeman spoke to TNT Sports to look ahead.
Can Pollock 'do a Rooney' on Lions tour down under?
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British & Irish Lions starlet Henry Pollock has revealed the approach he will be taking to get himself into the starting XV for the upcoming three-Test series against Australia.
Pollock, still only 20, will be the youngest man in the squad, and will therefore have the adjoining task of carrying round the Lions's customary mascot, BIL.
The prodigious flanker has had a meteoric rise within the game of late, only making his debut for England in the most recent Six Nations, but already finding himself in the Lions squad among the very elite of the northern hemisphere.
Pollock, who was revealed in the squad to huge cheers inside the O2 at May's squad announcement, sat down with TNT Sports to share his thoughts on the tour.
"What I’m looking most forward to on the Lions tour is meeting all the team-mates, some amazing players across the other nations, [that] will be cool and I’m excited to learn from them," Pollock said.
"And the environment is going to be very cool, being as a squad for nearly two months will be very cool."
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Pollock's name has come up in debates over the starting XV for the first Test - can he possibly push his way past a host of seasoned internationals to get into Andy Farrell's side?
Here is what he thinks is the key to doing so.
"The key to getting in the starting XV would probably be training level, so if you train really well I reckon [you will] potentially have a chance," he said.
"If you fit in well with the team, and then you’ve just got to hope the coaches agree with you as well."
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‘That’s defiance’ – Pollock makes electric break to set up try as 13-man Northampton hit back
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Pollock is joined in the squad by club and country team-mate Tommy Freeman, a comparative veteran at 24, but who has shone just as brightly for Northampton Saints and England this term.
Asked what the Lions need to get right against Australia, Freeman said: "I think the whole point of the tour is the buy-in first and foremost.
"Training levels are going to have to be right through the roof, we’re going to need a full squad effort and everyone’s got to be ready when they get their call.
"So I would just say turning up ready and being ready to go whenever called for."
Freeman played a full part in England's Autumn Nations Series defeat to Australia back in November, with young centre Joseph Sua'ali'i inspiring the visitors to their last-gasp victory.
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Australia break England hearts with dramatic winning try deep into added time
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And that's something Freeman took away as he plans to come out on the right side of the result down under.
"[I learned] they [Australia] won’t stop fighting, they will go right to the end," Freeman said.
"They’ve got some quick, electric backs and some powerful ball-carriers, so we’ll look to contain that as much as possible and make sure we put in an 80-minute performance."
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Superb Sua'ali'i offload tees up Wright for Australia's first try
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Freeman is joined by a coterie of Northampton colleagues with the Lions, after they performed strongly for England during the season, but also in club colours in reaching the final of the European Champions Cup.
But Freeman feels that creating new bonds with others in the squad will be key.
"It’s nice that you’ve got the mates there for off and on-pitch stuff," he said.
"But ultimately you want to chuck yourself in with people outside of those clubs and build up those connections as quick as possible really, because you never know who is going to be next to you."
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