British and Irish Lions send Aussies warning after Henry Pollock fight with Nick Champion de Crespigny

Lions skipper Dan Sheehan has issued a warning to Australian teams that they’re ready to fight back against anyone looking to target young star Henry Pollock or other teammates.

Lions skipper Dan Sheehan has issued a warning to Australian teams that they’re ready to fight back against anyone looking to target young star Henry Pollock or other teammates.

Pollock was involved in a minor scuffle with Western Force hardman Nick Champion de Crespigny following a Lions try at Optus Stadium, and immediately a horde of Lions players jumped in to help the 20-year-old.

Pollock has made himself a natural target with his edgy personality and try celebrations, but it’s clear the Lions won’t tolerate rivals going after him.

“We’ll get around anyone, whoever is targeted, we’ll get around them,” Sheehan said.

“It’s never going to be talked about protecting one fellow, it’ll be protecting everyone. As we come up through all these teams, they’ll be hungry, getting under our skin.

“That’ll be their way of trying to beat us, so we’ll just have to stick together tight.”

Force fullback Ben Donaldson said further on-field flare ups could be expected throughout the Lions tour.

“Not me personally because I’ll come off second best, but yeah maybe for the big boys, maybe Creps saw something and went after him tonight,” Donaldson said.

“But that’s the good thing about rugby isn’t it, you’ve got these personalities, boys going head to head, that’s why people come and watch the game.

“He’s been playing outstanding, Pollock, and so has Creps on our team so I didn’t mind seeing them going head to head tonight, but I’ll probably just stand back and watch that.”

Henry Pollock was in the thick of it against the Western Force. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images

Backrower Pollock, picked for this tour after just one Test off the bench for England, showed his immense potential by setting up two tries with brilliant plays – one a break and sensational off-load off the ground, the other a chip and regather – but also put his side under pressure when he was yellow carded for a ruck infringement.

Lions coach Andy Farrell said: “He got a yellow card because of repeated infringement, which was certainly fair enough.

“I thought you saw his point of difference, that’s for sure. He’s learning all the time, there’s plenty to work on to make sure that we’re the team that we want to be, and he’s part of that.”

Sheehan expects Pollock to develop rapidly on tour.

“I thought he was brilliant today, he does his own thing, he has his own way of playing, he’s probably different to a lot of the forwards,” Sheehan said.

“I enjoy that kind of rugby, off the cuff, see what’s in front of you and make it happen.

“With his skill set and speed, he can certainly make it happen. It’s just about trying to make sure that he’s doing the right thing for the team all the time.

“I thought he had a great game today, but making sure that as we go on through the tour that he fits into our shape and how we want to play.

“I think he’ll be continuously developing. All these big games are massive for him and massive for all of us to experience. I think he’ll just get better and better from here.”

The Lions have a major injury concern with Welsh halfback Tomos Williams suffering a hamstring strain.

It’s being speculated that Ben White could be called into camp from Scotland’s tour in New Zealand, although Farrell said he would not make a call until they receive results from scans on Williams.

Originally published as British and Irish Lions send Aussies warning after Henry Pollock fight with Nick Champion de Crespigny