Lion Pollock handed chance to make number eight his own in Perth

SYDNEY :Henry Pollock's rise in the rugby world has been nothing short of meteoric and on Saturday he gets a chance to make another mighty leap in a red British & Irish Lions number eight shirt against Western Force in Perth.

The explosive 20-year-old has gone from England under-20s representative, to full international and then Lion in little more than five months and made his debut for the tourists in the loss to Argentina in Dublin last week.

Number eight is traditionally the province of the biggest and brawniest man on the pitch, but Pollock has been given licence by Lions coach Andy Farrell to make it his own.

"He knows what we want from our eights, but he's got to find his own version of that, as that's what we want, him being himself," Farrell said after naming his team on Thursday.     

"His point of difference is his ability to see things quickly and act upon that and his line running, for example, is pretty good.

"His awareness of space and how sharp he is in his mind and his athletic abilities are up there with the other lads in the squad."

After setting the rugby world alight with a brilliant display in his normal openside flanker role as his club Northampton beat Leinster in the Champions Cup semi-finals last month, Pollock was named number eight for the final.

It did not go as well as he hoped with the Saints losing 28-20 to Bordeaux Begles but Farrell said such experiences were all an important part of his development. 

"The final was perfect for him as at the top end of club level, and international level, and the top end of British & Irish Lions matches, they're all experiences that you'd hope to get," he added. 

"He's had one of those where it all didn't go his team's way. He's got to find a way within that.