Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Henry Pollock and Noah Caluori have been named as the English top flight's breakthrough player of the season in 2024-25 and 2025-26 respectively
ByMike HensonBBC Sport rugby union news reporter- Published14 minutes ago
England's young stars Henry Pollock and Noah Caluori are targeting starting for their country after scoring tries in Saturday's 73-8 thrashing of Fiji.
Pollock, 21, claimed a hat-trick after being introduced as a 48th-minute replacement at Hill Dickinson Stadium, while 19-year-old Caluori, making his debut off the bench, set up a score for Henry Slade before diving over himself.
"A big thing for me at the minute is wanting to get that starting shirt," said Pollock, who has started only once in 12 Test appearances for England.
"Steve [Borthwick] said to me before the Fiji game to just go out there and be myself. I hope I did that and hope he saw enough in me."
Pollock acknowledged that England's strength in depth is "crazy good" with Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Guy Pepper and Ben Earl also vying for position in the back row.
However, a strong end to the season with club side Northampton, combined with six Test tries in his short international career, have prompted calls for Pollock to be given a run from the start.
"I'm just trying to focus on myself and focus on my performances. Hopefully on the back of that I'll get results," added Pollock.
Saracens' Caluori, who finished joint top of the Prem try-scoring standings this season, will also have to see off some substantial rivals if he is to secure a long-term starting spot.
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Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Tommy Freeman were the two starting wings against Fiji, with the likes of Cadan Murley, Tom Roebuck, Henry Arundell and Adam Radwan also contending.
But Caluori, who has set his sights publicly on being England's best-ever wing, is keen to push on up the pecking order.
"I'm still hungry for more," he told Rugby Union Weekly.
"I always want to push. The next thing after this is to start. I'm always trying to get better every day in training.
"I'm not a complacent person so I'm always trying to be more hungry and achieve more."
Caluori and Pollock celebrated their scores against Fiji in style at the weekend.
Pollock marked his final try by copying England football star Jude Bellingham's familiar pose, with his arms outstretched in celebration.
Caluori meanwhile soared over the whitewash with a dive that showcased his prodigious vertical leap.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Caluori's ability in the air has marked him out as a special talent
Asked to compare his version to Chris Ashton's signature swan dive, Caluori reckoned he and the former England wing shared the spoils stylistically.
"I think his actual technique's a bit better - maybe I jump a bit further," Caluori added.
England will take on Argentina in their final match of the summer on Saturday. They have beaten the Pumas in 15 of their 16 meetings, but Argentina have won both the only two matches they have played at the Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades, beating Scotland and South Africa.
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