England's Tommy Freeman is determined to silence teammate Henry Pollock as they prepare to face Argentina on Saturday, capping a relentless season that has tested the mental and physical resilience of several British & Irish Lions tourists.
Relentless season takes its toll
The 2025-26 campaign has been gruelling for many players who toured Australia with the Lions last year. Henry Pollock is set for his 32nd competitive game, while Freeman will play his 29th. Ben Earl and Ellis Genge, if they feature against the Pumas, will also reach 32 games, with Ollie Chessum one behind. Freeman has accumulated over 2,052 minutes on the pitch, significantly more than Pollock's 1,533, largely due to Pollock's frequent role as an impact substitute.
Freeman's workload has been particularly heavy. In 2023-24 he played 35 games (2,530 minutes), and last season he appeared in 34 games, including all three Lions Tests. Since September 2023, he has logged more than 7,000 minutes of top-level rugby, with an intense pre-World Cup year still ahead.
Mental health struggles and recovery
Freeman admitted to experiencing “built-up anxiety” during the Lions tour and revealed he had been “struggling without realising it” mentally. A hamstring injury in November provided a much-needed break, and he has been fully back since before Christmas. “I try and avoid stuff online, but you can see there are people saying: ‘He’d be better on the wing.’ Or: ‘He’d make a great centre.’ But I’ll go where I’m needed for the team. As long as I’m involved I don’t mind,” Freeman said.
Positional debate continues
Freeman, who wore 13 and 14 in England's two Tests this month, finds defending at centre easier than on the wing. The midfield blend remains a topic of debate, with Henry Slade in fine form and England keen to develop Benhard van Rensburg and Seb Atkinson. Long-term, Max Ojomoh, Ollie Lawrence, and Joe Marchant are also in contention for the World Cup.
Friendly rivalry with Pollock
Freeman is eager to score on Saturday to silence Pollock, who has been teasing him about his three-try hat-trick against Fiji. “As you can imagine we’ve had a lot of stick from him. But he’s rapid, isn’t he? While his acceleration is very good and he’s a powerful guy I’d like to think I’ve got him for top-end pace otherwise I’ll be struggling for a job,” Freeman joked.
Defence coach Richard Wigglesworth emphasised motivation: “Your motivation is to be playing for England. You’re away with the country you want to be playing for. I’m sure all the players will have some well-deserved rest and relaxation after this, but at the moment it’s about what we’re doing this week.”
