For the second time in four days a special young talent lit up the European semi-final stage - and Henry Pollock admits Lamine Yamal provided plenty of inspiration for his Aviva Stadium heroics.
Yamal, the 17-year-old Barcelona prodigy, wowed the millions watching his team's 3-3 draw with Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final at the Olympic Stadium at Montjuïc on Wednesday night.
Pollock, 20, made a similar impact for Northampton Saints in their 37-34 triumph over hot favourites Leinster in Dublin on Saturday evening.
The new England star was later asked if there was an underdog story that he was interested in or that has inspired him. "Just watching youngsters doing their thing," he said. "Yamal was pretty special in the Champions League in the week. I love sport and these are the games you want to play in.
"With me, it's about not changing, I have said it loads - not changing. I bring an energy that probably others don’t and anything I can bring to the team is at the forefront of my mind, bringing them energy, bringing them excitement. It's not every day you get to play in a final in Cardiff against one of the best teams in Europe. I will be excited for that."
Lamine Yamal of Barcelona competes for the ball with Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi of FC Internazionale during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 semi-final first leg
Lamine Yamal of Barcelona competes for the ball with Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi of FC Internazionale during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 semi-final first leg (Image: Manuel Queimadelos/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Pollock didn't just prove to be a disruptive force, helping to neutralise Leinster's usually dangerous maul, but he also scored a scintillating first half try. The dynamic openside raced through a gap between Cian Healy and RG Snyman, then burned Sam Prendergast on the outside to score.
Not bad for a young player who travelled to Croke Park in fancy dress to support his club in last year's semi-final - and he can look forward to Andy Farrell's Lions squad selection on Thursday with some confidence now.
"It has not been the kind of season we wanted," said Pollock, with the Saints' Premiership title defence not going to plan as they battle to improve on seventh place.
“Reflecting back on the last year it has been pretty mad. Getting into a Champions Cup final and getting my senior cap would probably have been a dream.
Leinster's Sam Prendergast is tackled by Fraser Dingwall and Henry Pollock of the Northampton Saints
Leinster's Sam Prendergast is tackled by Fraser Dingwall and Henry Pollock of the Northampton Saints (Image: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo)
"Every opportunity I've got, I feel like I have taken. We have got such a good group at Northampton that even when things go wrong in the Prem we can bounce back, get a bit of form and come to Leinster in their backyard and win which is something we will never forget.
“I'd say before the game you probably look at the (Leinster) team sheet and go ‘wow, Jordie Barrett is playing’ and it's pretty cool. These are the games you want to play in, that as little kid you look at and watch. Van der Flier and Doris are the best backrowers in the world at the minute and I was just excited and could wait to get out there.
"I was buzzing in the changing rooms beforehand, buzzing all week. It is an honour to be able to share a pitch with them. On the pitch you don’t really think about it, it's muscle memory and it is your next action is the biggest one and it doesn’t really matter who you are up against.
"I was just excited to go up against some of the best players in the world."
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