New captain Pocock embraces disruption
Late player scratchings bring in new talent and may help at World Cup
RUGBY UNION: Newly installed captain David Pocock is sure the latest Wallabies’ reshuffle won’t rattle the side tonight when they go into battle without Michael Hooper.
Pocock will captain against Argentina on the Gold Coast after regular skipper Hooper’s late withdrawal with the same hamstring concern that caused him to miss the back end of the Super Rugby season.
Peter Samu will move from the bench to start at No.8 alongside new No.7 Pocock, and Ned Hanigan has been added to the reserves.
It marks the third time in the Wallabies’ four matches in the Rugby Championship series that at least one player has been pulled from the original squad.
Pocock (neck) and Israel Folau (ankle) were both omitted before last weekend’s win over South Africa, and Adam Coleman was a game-day scratching after he flew home for the impending birth of his first child.
Taniela Tupou (hamstring) was also a last-minute withdrawal from the series-opener in Sydney against New Zealand.
All four are back in the side to face Los Pumas on Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium, but Folau is on the wing rather than in his usual No.15 jersey and Bernard Foley has been benched again in favour of a Matt Toomua-Kurtley Beale playmaking combination.
While acknowledging he was still managing his own health, Pocock said the disruptions had become the norm and might actually help coach Michael Cheika’s side ahead of next year’s World Cup.
“I think it does – it forces you to adapt and one of the things Cheik has done really well is bring in a bunch of new talent,” Pocock said.
“If this (run of injuries) had of happened before the last World Cup I think we’d be in some serious strife. But as it is now there’s a bunch of guys that have been part of the group, know how we play and have been able to slot in.”
The Wallabies can jump to second in the Rugby Championship standings, behind the All Blacks, with a win tonight.
The Aussies will start as comfortable favourites with the bookies, but the hosts are wary of a side that pushed NZ last weekend and beat South Africa in their last start at home.
“They mix a big, abrasive forward pack with some real flare out wide,” Pocock said.
‘‘ THEY MIX A BIG, ABRASIVE FORWARD PACK WITH SOME REAL FLARE OUT WIDE. — DAVID POCOCK ON ARGENTINA