Henry Pollock turns 20 on Tuesday – the same day Steve Borthwick names his Six Nations squad – and in a losing cause for a patched-up Northampton side, who saw Fin Smith withdraw due to illness shortly before kick-off, the teenage tyro did all he could to ensure the perfect birthday present.
Pollock stole the show in a breathless first quarter, scoring two tries and helping Northampton race into a 21-0 lead. Stade Français responded in brutal fashion, tails up and unplayable for the best part of an hour, finishing the match with seven tries and ensuring a difficult evening for Northampton. Pollock’s showing is some silver lining, however.
Northampton had 11 players unavailable for selection – including three locks – even before Smith was ruled out. That Phil Dowson also opted to rest Fraser Dingwall and Juarno Augustus demonstrated both how much faith he has in his fringe players and how important their back-to-back wins in the first two rounds of this competition were in December. Indeed, a losing bonus point here means they have qualified for the last 16 and can book a home tie with victory over Munster next weekend.
Smith will be included in Borthwick’s squad on Tuesday but this was supposed to be another chance to press home his claim for England’s No 10 jersey. A bout of flu denied him that opportunity and meant a switch to fly-half for Rory Hutchinson but any sense Northampton’s attacking ambitions may be dulled by the upheaval was swiftly expunged. Indeed, they were three tries to the good by the end of the first quarter, catching cold a Stade Français side who have been desperately struggling for form of late.
The second row Tom Lockett was the first to dot down, crashing over from close range before Pollock had his first with a dextrous finish on the right. His second stunned Stade, by this stage shell-shocked. He pilfered the ball from Stade hands near the halfway line and raced through to score, saluting the Northampton faithful as he did so – Pollock does not lack for confidence. It was one of those moments that leaves you wondering quite what just happened, and when you have a player who can do that, it is normally a good sign.
Borthwick does not want for back-row options for the Six Nations but with Sam Underhill likely to miss the entire championship with an ankle injury, he may just find room for Pollock, who was invited to an England alignment camp last week.
“He was outstanding,” Dowson said. “For somebody who is not the heaviest man out there, he packs a punch and his post-contact metres are a joke really. In terms of his balance on his feet and his ability to move the ball, there’s not a lot he doesn’t do playing at 8 or 7. I don’t think it is too soon [for him to be called up] but I think there’s a lot of competition in that area, which is great for Steve.”
Stade had registered no points from their opening two matches and currently sit second bottom in the Top 14. You wondered if they might capitulate but three emphatic tries to reduce the deficit to two points at the interval was some response. Indeed, as much as Pollock impressed, the hosts boast a formidable back row of their own in Tanginoa Halaifonua, Romain Briatte and Yoan Tanga.
Josh Bassett scored a hat-trick as Leicester fought back to earn a 38-10 Pool 1 victory over Ulster at Welford Road and secure their place in the last 16.
Nick Timoney got the visitors off to a flying start with an early try, but Bassett crossed after 17, 41 and 60 minutes at Welford Road. Ollie Hassell-Collins also helped himself to a double and Izaia Perese added a sixth try as the home side hit back in devastating fashion.
Sale's hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions Cup suffered a major blow after they were thrashed 40-0 by Stormers in Cape Town. South Africa fly-half Manie Libbok scored 13 points as the hosts roared to a bonus-point win to replace their opponents in the final qualifying spot in Pool 1.
The visitors coped well enough in the opening quarter but JD Schickerling opened the scoring before Libbok burst clear to extend the home side's lead. Sale were guilty of missed chances as Stormers pushed further in front with tries from Sti Sithole and Warrick Gelant to secure the potentially crucial bonus point.
Paul de Wet scored the home side's fifth try and Andre-Hugo Venter wrapped up a shutout victory, leaving Sale with all to play for in their final home game against Toulon, who maintained their unbeaten record with a 20-8 win over Sharks.
Munster revived their qualification hopes and climbed above Saracens in Pool 3 with a 17-12 win over the three-times European champions at Thomond Park. The visitors led 9-3 courtesy of two Alex Lozowski penalties and a third from Elliot Daly after Jack Crowley had replied.
Dian Bleuler's 59th-minute try dragged the hosts back to within a point and Crowley's conversion put them ahead. It was John Hodnett's touchdown, with Crowley again adding the two points, which gave them breathing space despite Lozowski's third successful penalty attempt of the game. PA Media
The first was a powerful finish from the right winger Peniasi Dakuwaqa, the second a canter for JJ van der Mescht after charging down Hutchinson’s kick. It gave Stade another shot in the arm and their third try was a thing of muscular beauty, kicking a penalty to the corner and bulldozing over with Tanga awarded the score.
Northampton got the try they needed to break Stade’s rhythm soon after half-time, Pollock turning provider this time with the final pass to the hooker Henry Walker. But back roared Stade with another flex of their muscles, a maul thundering towards the line before the referee Eoghan Cross awarded a penalty try and sent Alex Mitchell to the sin-bin.
Northampton capitulated thereafter. Samuel Ezeala finished their stylish fifth try before Tanga forced his way over from close range as Stade took full advantage of Saints’ crumbling lineout. With Josh Kemeny in the sin-bin, the captain Paul Gabrillagues added try No 7 before Curtis Langdon registered a late consolation score for Northampton.
