Almost two years on from a helter-skelter debut against Argentina in San Juan, Billy Pollard is ready to pull on the gold jersey in front of family and friends.
But the confidence Pollard speaks with now is a contrast to the baptism of fire he walked into a tick under 24 months ago.
The 22-year-old doesn’t beat around the bush around his international debut.
“I wasn’t ready,” the Brumbies hooker says.
Billy Pollard (3rd right) prepares for his Wallabies debut against Los Pumas at San Juan del Bicentenario Stadium on August 13, 2022 in San Juan. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)
And who could blame him?
Rushed onto the first flight out of Sydney headed for Mendoza, the then 20-year-old had barely played a full match of Super Rugby when he found himself on a flight to South America after Dave Porecki (concussion) accompanied Michael Hooper home to Sydney.
Then, before he had time to dust off the jet-lag from a lazy 30-hour plane trip, the youngster was called up by Dave Rennie after Folau Fainga’a suffered his own knock at training, which came hot on the heels of Hunter Paisami’s blow as well as Quade Cooper’s Achilles injury, and suddenly Pollard was in.
“I was kind of thrown into it all,” he tells The Roar.
“Obviously, those guys had been together for a couple of months, so it would have thrown the dynamics off a fair bit.
“We just had to be better at adapting.”
Billy Pollard became Wallaby 938 after making his debut against Argentina in San Juan. Photo: Rugby Australia
Ever been less prepared for a game?
“No,” he quips. “The night before they had to give me boots and I had to mould my mouthguard, so it was a bit different because I had to leave in a real rush and I didn’t have suitable boots.
“Obviously, Argentina, that stadium has all the tall fences around it, so it can be a bit daunting at times.
“Looking back, I obviously wasn’t ready at that point in terms of my set-piece, but I think these last two years I’ve learned a lot around set-piece, but also just around the park.
“It was an amazing experience and I absolutely loved it, but probably a bit too early.
Given the speed of it all, nor was it practical for Pollard’s family to get over to the other side of the world to watch him run on.
On Saturday, that could change with the rising hooker, who was hotly pursued by NRL suitors, a strong chance to feature against Wales in the opening Test of the year under Joe Schmidt.
Pollard is one of three hookers in Schmidt’s maiden Wallabies squad, with less than 10 caps between him, Matt Faessler and uncapped Reds rake Josh Nasser.
Billy Pollard is hopeful of earning his second Wallabies cap against Wales on Saturday. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images for ARU)
While Faessler’s World Cup experience and solid Super Rugby campaign likely has him favourite to wear the No.2 jersey, Pollard’s combination with James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost and Rob Valetini will have him firmly in the mix to start.
Pollard’s own game developed splendidly throughout the year, with the rising rake featuring prominently in 15 matches after Lachlan Lonergan’s devastating knee-injury earlier in the year.
Quick and strong, the Brumbies hooker’s running game particularly stood out – a trait of Dane Coles’, the former All Blacks World Cup-winner that Pollard idolised growing up.
Pollard’s rise also comes after a three-month stint in France, where he benefitted from a stint with Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle program as a World Cup joker.
“It was amazing,” Pollard reflects.
“It taught me the importance of set-piece, and the effect it can have on the momentum of a game. It was really important, so I learned all that. It was just a great experience living over there, too.”
Pollard also stacked on a bit of weight.
“I was very heavy after France, I was like 115kgs – that was the croissants,” he quipped.
But playing in the land of the giants, Pollard also recognised the need and benefit of playing a bit heavier.
“Going over I really wanted to, because I understood how physical and big everyone is over there,” he said.
“I wanted to get a bit heavier, probably not that heavy. But now I’m back to 110-111kg, which is definitely becoming my base weight now.”
Playing alongside international stars Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Jack Nowell, Pollard says the experience opened his eyes to how big rugby is globally – not that he’s about to look for a permanent home overseas anytime soon.
“I want to stay in Australia and play for the Brumbies and the Wallabies,” he said.
“That’s my goal as long as I can, but you never know if you get to the end of your career, it could be nice to go over to someplace like that.”
So what’s O’Gara like?
“He was unreal,” Pollard said. “Just a really good balance as a coach. A lot of passion, but also obviously extremely smart, the way he played footy and wanted you to be physical.”
Billy Pollard was in rich form for the Brumbies in 2024. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
That will be the key for Pollard under Schmidt and the scrum doctor Mike Cron.
“I think you can do whatever you want around the field, but it means nothing unless your set-piece is sound and you’re providing a good platform and have the skills to problem solve on the run,” Pollard said.
“So that’s without a doubt my biggest focus.
“It sounds cliched, but nailing the one percenters around the breakdown is crucial. And then if you get the opportunity around the field, then so be it.
“They’re [Schmidt, Cron and Laurie Fisher] just so hard on the fundamentals and the detail, and all those little percentages that add up to a Test match.
“I’ve got very little experience, so I’m not too sure of it myself but they keep harping on how important that is to just nail all those little one percentages that will then lead into the bigger aspects of the game.”
It sounds like Pollard is on the right track.