Wallabies great insists his absence won’t leave void
WALLABIES great George Smith is certain the David Pocock- Michael Hooper partnership can be a force at next year’s World Cup now that vibrant ball- carting back- row foils are emerging.
Smith used his own farewell game media conference yesterday to talk up his positive view of the back- row future at both the Wallabies and the Queensland Reds.
He sang the praises of Queensland’s Caleb Timu and Lukhan Tui, the Test back- row experiments of June, as well as dynamic 110kg Brumbies wildcard Isi Naisarani.
“There’s always going to be different opinions on whether that Pocock- Hoops make- up is going to work but I’m definitely comfortable with it for the World Cup,” Smith said.
“Pocock is very abrasive at the breakdown and can be a real momentum- shifter with his turnovers, while Hoops is constantly working, looking for opportunities to attack and brings very good defence.
“To me, they complement each other very well and it’s a No. 6 that the coaching staff are still striving to find for the perfect combination.
“A decent ball- carrying backrower of size is what Aus- tralia needs and I think Caleb and Lukhan are showing they can have a fantastic impact.”
Smith said he thought Fijian Naisarani, 23, had “fantastic potential” and would be a significant selection factor once eligible for the Wallabies in December.
A cautious approach to his twisted knee means Smith, 37, is still no certainty to be part of his own Reds send- off against the Sunwolves at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
“It’s one game for me and ( either way) I’ll have a lot of good memories from my time at the Reds,” Smith said.
“The Reds have exciting talent coming through in the back row, where I think Liam Wright is a natural flanker ( as a successor) with the way he reads the game and moves fluidly.”