The French don’t get Henry Pollock. As somebody who has lived in France for years, and is married to a Frenchwoman, I acknowledge {that a} sense of humour may be very a lot a part of the French character. However what they don’t have is the British tongue-in-cheek selection. Self-deprecation just isn’t their forte.
You’ll by no means have a French participant dressing up as Ruprecht! – as Neil Jenkins gloriously did in the course of the 1997 Lions tour – or mocking himself in a pizza advert à la Tony Underwood.
A great instance is Sebastien Chabal, ‘The Caveman’, who to the Anglo-Saxons was an amusing caricature however who in France was taken very critically. Sadly, all of it went to Chabal’s head and he obtained caught up in his personal hype, to the purpose of being downright impolite to journalists.
“Could I ask you a query in English?” a journalist politely enquired of the Frenchman during a RWC 2007 press conference. “No, we’re in France. We communicate French,” replied the back-rower with a fierce glare, earlier than strolling brusquely away. If an English participant had behaved in such a means, you may wager that the French press would have been up in arms at English conceitedness.
France doesn’t perceive that Pollock is purposely taking part in the pantomime villain. They assume he’s up his personal derrière, which is why there was a lot glee following Bordeaux’s stirring victory over Northampton within the Champions League remaining.
The French broadsheet, Le Figaro, described Pollock as an “enfant horrible” and mentioned he had been schooled by the Bordeaux pack.
In its ‘Who’s scorching and who’s chilly?’ barometer column on Monday, Midi Olympique had the Saints’ unfastened ahead within the cooler beneath the heading ‘Dangerous loser’. Not solely had he been “discreet” in the course of the recreation, however within the minutes after the ultimate whistle he had “as soon as once more been inglorious” in upsetting Jefferson Poirot.
European Skilled Membership Rugby took a distinct view of the incident and has cited Poirot for allegedly committing an “act opposite to good sportsmanship in the direction of the Northampton Saints quantity 8, Henry Pollock”. The Bordeaux prop is charged with greedy the throat of the Englishman in “a means that was harmful and had the potential to trigger critical hurt”.
As Fin Smith remarked wryly: “I’m stunned if in case you have simply received a European Cup, the very first thing you wish to do is begin a struggle with a 20-year-old. I felt that was fascinating.”
Pollock additionally had a run-in with Matthieu Jalibert, the Bordeaux fly-half, who later defined that he had felt the necessity to remind Pollock about respect. Critically! That is the person who in 2021 ran onto the pitch from the replacements bench to mock a Castres opponent after a last-gasp attempt from Bordeaux. Jalibert later apologised saying: “Bantering on the pitch is a part of the sport, a part of destabilization.”
It in all probability doesn’t assist Pollock that he’s blond-haired and blue-eyed, the archetypal Englishman. Is it simply my creativeness or does he bear a passing resemblance to Laurence Olivier’s Henry V?
Pollock has the same opinion. “I’m a wind up service provider,” he admits. However whereas some French rugby gamers dish it out, they’re not excellent at taking it.
Keep in mind how Brian Moore used to get beneath their pores and skin? As soon as with a mischievous smile, the England hooker likened Les Bleus to ’15 Eric Cantonas’? That was a reference to the footballer’s volatility, not his sporting brilliance. It didn’t go down nicely with the French, who harrumphed a couple of lack of respect. It was a joke. Loosen up.
It in all probability doesn’t assist Pollock that he’s blond-haired and blue-eyed, the archetypal Englishman. Is it simply my creativeness or does he bear a passing resemblance to Laurence Olivier’s Henry V?
Pollock goes to be round for some time so the French should get used to him. He’s unlikely to vary. Mark Regan by no means did throughout his England profession. The hooker was one other of the sport’s wind-up retailers, as Springboks counterpart John Smit acknowledged after England’s tour to South Africa in the summertime of 2007. “He talked to me in two matches greater than my spouse has in 10 years!” quipped Smit.
Bordeaux had been sensible for 80 minutes in Cardiff however in letting themselves get wound up by Pollock, they let themselves down.
Just a few months later the 2 nations met within the remaining of the 2007 World Cup. Requested how he was making ready for one more confrontation with Regan, Smit replied: “I’ve introduced my spouse over this week so I can get some apply in.” Smit didn’t let Regan needle him as a result of he knew it was all a part of the sport. There have been gamers like Regan in South Africa, just like the late James Small, a wing with perspective.
Bordeaux had been sensible for 80 minutes in Cardiff however in letting themselves get wound up by Pollock, they let themselves down.
