Henry Pollock repeatedly booed by South Africa crowd
South Africa fans “welcomed” Henry Pollock to Ellis Park in their own inimitable fashion - Phill Magakoe/Getty ImagesHenry Pollock received a hostile reception and was greeted by a chorus of boos when he came. . .
South Africa fans “welcomed” Henry Pollock to Ellis Park in their own inimitable fashion - Phill Magakoe/Getty ImagesHenry Pollock received a hostile reception and was greeted by a chorus of boos when he came off the bench at Ellis Park. South Africa’s “hatred” of Pollock played a central role in the build-up to thematch between England and South Africain the Nations Championship. AdvertisementThe 21-year-old was deployed in the 58th minute while England were trailing, which prompted raucous booing of the back-rower. Boos also rang out around Ellis Park when Pollock’s name was announced pre-match, which he met with laughter, and again when he came out for the second half. He was then booed loudly every time he touched the ball. Guy Pepper was also booed when he came on because some of the crowd mistook him for Pollock. Pollock entered the pitch before the national anthems full of enthusiasm, shouting: “Yes!”. AdvertisementAlthough Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus played down any issues within his team’s camp,Pollock’s style has certainly drawn the ire of South Africa fansand former players despite Saturday’s match being his first against them at international level. Schalk Burger, the former Springbok flanker, described Pollock as “a TikTok dancer and he plays a little bit of rugby on the weekend”. Burger’s former team-mate Duane Vermeulen, now part of the coaching set-up, went further still, suggesting he would come out of retirement to get a piece of him. Advertisement“I think it’s going to be interesting when the boys hit the ground in that first Test. I would love to then have a comeback, even if it’s only for 10 minutes,” Vermeulen said. John Robbie, the former British and Irish Lions player who ended up staying in South Africa and becoming a popular talk radio host, said the loathing was born of a personality that is at odds with what Afrikaners expect of young players. “He is absolutely what South Africans hate,” Robbie said. “He embodies that particular English fascination with personality, star quality. That’s precisely what triggers South Africans, especially Afrikaners. Advertisement“South Africans are supposed to be quiet, dour, stiff upper lip, modest, thankful to God. Then you have this kid who is everything they don’t like: he’s outspoken, brash, a bit arrogant. ”