Kiwis on Pocock alert
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 themercury.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 696 397 THE ALL Blacks are ramping up their preparations for Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test in Perth after David Pocock’s reappearance at Wallaby team training left the New Zealanders convinced he is about to make a shock comeback.
Along with the expelled Israel Folau, Pocock is one of the few Wallabies who forces the All Blacks to think twice about their game plan, so the sight of him at training has set off alarm bells.
The word from inside the Wallaby camp is that Pocock, THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP preparing for him to be selected. New Zealand flanker Sam Cane, who has also returned from injury, said: “I expect to come back and be right in the thick of things.
“Your match fitness is not quite where you want it to be but because you’ve been in those situations before you can normally just push on through.
“A guy like David Pocock, his best and worst game, there’s not a big margin between them.”
Named in an expanded squad then spotted training at the WACA with his headgear on, Pocock has given every impression he’s champing at the bit to resume playing, either off the bench or in the back row alongside Wallaby skipper Michael Hooper.
It could just be another smokescreen from Wallaby coach Michael Cheika, a master of pre-match mind games, but the New Zealanders aren’t taking any chances.
“When you’ve got a dynamic like that it’s almost impossible to keep them right out of the game,” Cane said.
“It’s just restricting their opportunity, you’ve got to be very accurate.”
New Zealand’s assistant coach Ian Foster also expects Pocock to be selected alongside Hooper.
“We’ve played against those two when they’ve played together a number of times and they’re quality footballers so we’re preparing for that,” Foster said.
“Whatever happens on Saturday will happen, but we’re guessing that he will play.”
One player who won’t be playing is Folau, sacked after posting anti-guy comments on his Instagram page. Folau scored eight tries in 17 matches against the All Blacks so Foster is happy to see the back of him.