“Absolute madness” – Ireland fans left furious at Henry Pollock after Six Nations finale
Madness.
Irish rugby fans found themselves in a deeply unusual position on Saturday night — cheering for England.
With Ireland having earlier dismantled Scotland 43–21 in Dublin, the championship equation was simple enough: if England could somehow get the better of France in Paris, the Six Nations title would be heading back across the Irish Sea.
For long stretches at the Stade de France, it looked like it might actually happen. England produced one of their most spirited performances of the campaign and edged into the lead late on, putting Ireland within touching distance of the trophy.
But then came a moment that has sparked serious debate online — and left many Irish supporters tearing their hair out.
With barely a minute left on the clock, England flanker Henry Pollock ripped the ball brilliantly near the halfway line. The smart play from there seemed obvious: carry into contact, recycle possession, and run down the remaining seconds.
Instead, Pollock attempted an ambitious offload that flew forward and handed possession straight back to France.
Moments later, England were penalised, and Thomas Ramos stepped up to slot a long-range kick that sealed a dramatic French victory — and with it the Six Nations title.
There was less than a minute left in the game and Pollock throws a loose pass instead of going into contact. That's how close we were. https://t.co/QkuuVaYx1E pic.twitter.com/Gb89bKGLYl
— Humble Leinster Supporters Club (@LeinsterClub) March 14, 2026
Former Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris felt the young Englishman simply misread the moment.
“Instead of just putting the head down and taking it into contact… the game would have been over,” Ferris said.
Ferris added that Pollock’s earlier celebration — where he shushed the Paris crowd after a Tommy Freeman try — may have made the mistake even more painful in hindsight.
Online reaction was swift, with many Irish fans describing the decision as “absolute madness,” believing the championship had effectively been within touching distance before the costly error.
To be fair to Pollock, his fearless instinct is also part of what makes him such an exciting player. The 21-year-old has built a reputation for playing with attacking intent no matter the game situation.
Unfortunately for Ireland — and England — this time that instinct proved a little too adventurous.
