"Pollock time" – Three England players who flopped against Fiji and should make way for Argentina
Rugby NewsSaturday, 11 July 2026 at 17:09
England returned to winning ways with a convincing victory over Fiji, but not every player strengthened their case for the final Nations Championship clash against Argentina.
Steve Borthwick now has some huge selection decisions to make, with Henry Pollock making an irresistible case for a starting spot after his sensational second-half hat-trick.
Here are three changes England should make for next weekend.
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George Martin
Sometimes technical terms do not quite capture Martin’s impact. "Melted", "smashed" and "banged" are often more appropriate descriptions for the damage the Saracens-bound lock produces in the tight.
However, he did not produce the same standout performance he managed against the Springboks, while his statistics were also fairly modest.
Martin finished with just four tackles and four carries in his 48 minutes on the pitch. While he is clearly still working his way back into Test rugby, England now have an irresistible option waiting in the wings.
Replacement: Henry Pollock
Move Ollie Chessum back into the second row and unleash Pollock from the start.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Henry Pollock of England (L) celebrates after scoring their team's tenth try during the 2026 Nations Championship match between Fiji and England at Hill Dickinson Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by George Wood - Nations Championship/Getty Images)
After coming on with more than 30 minutes remaining, it felt inevitable that Pollock would score — and he did.
He showed electric pace to chase down Ben Earl's kick for his first before running a superb short line off Henry Slade to sprint around 40 metres for his second.
His hat-trick arrived with the final play of the match, timing another devastating line from a driving maul to perfection.
Borthwick can no longer ignore him.
Marcus Smith
Smith was gifted a try but failed to make the most of a couple of promising attacking opportunities.
It also has to be said again: he is not a full-back. His defensive positioning remains a weakness, and Fiji looked capable of exposing England's backfield whenever they attacked.
Ironically, Smith looked far more comfortable during his brief cameo at scrum-half after England reshuffled their backline.
There may not be a player in world rugby easier to sympathise with. Smith is a world-class fly-half who continues to be asked to play almost everywhere except his best position.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Marcus Smith of England celebrates after scoring their team's first try during the 2026 Nations Championship match between Fiji and England at Hill Dickinson Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger - Nations Championship/Getty Images)
Replacement: George Hendy
If Freddie Steward is still unavailable, England should call up Northampton full-back George Hendy.
Hendy is a specialist No.15 who would provide greater security under the high ball and far more natural defensive instincts from the backfield against Argentina.
Tommy Freeman
Freeman has looked some way below his usual standards over the past two matches.
He came desperately close to scoring on several occasions, with the bounce of the ball repeatedly denying him, but he never quite imposed himself on the contest.
His almost telepathic understanding with Fin Smith remains another strong argument for keeping him on the wing, as that combination simply does not have the same impact when Freeman moves into the centres.
His versatility was useful as England reshuffled during the second half, but he still failed to produce the influence expected of one of England's star backs.
Replacement: Noah Caluori
Caluori made an outstanding first impression on debut.
Within minutes of coming on he produced the inside pass for Henry Slade's try before getting on the scoresheet himself, showing excellent support play to finish England's attack.
The youngster brought genuine pace and energy to England's backline and deserves the opportunity to start against Argentina.
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