POCOCK STEPS UP
Reloaded veteran Pocock ready for Pumas assignment ... as captain
DAVID Pocock’s body would never last a sustained World Cup if it were to kick off tonight yet the warrior flanker will be captaining his country for the first time in two years on the Gold Coast.
It has taken every hour of the past three weeks for him to get his damaged neck right to throw himself into more jolting, physical contortions in the most physical corners of a Test against the burly Argentinians.
Having Pocock to step up as stand-in skipper always brings a sense of calm even when the loss is heavy, with Michael Hooper succumbing to a niggling hamstring yesterday.
Flanker Pocock is 30, has played 71 Tests and been indispensable at two World Cups yet he was cagey about career longevity when asked how his future would unfold with an issue magnified by a series of neck rolls.
“It’s something I’ll have to talk to the medical team about to map a bit of a plan but I’ve got through enough contact (training) to give me confidence to play which is the focus for now,” he said with a distinct Test-at-a-time tone.
Playing six or seven Tests in a World Cup run in Japan next year is a long way off.
It’s not in his make-up to take a two-month break to settle his neck when teammates are in the trenches for this clash at Cbus Super Stadium.
The Wallabies must have the ruthless mental edge to improve on last Saturday
night’s gutsy 23-18 win over South Africa, not relax because of it.
It’s about dealing with another late back-row change, nailing the three or four try chances that were squandered at Suncorp Stadium and harassing in defence against a potent Pumas side that scored three good ones against the All Blacks.
Coach Michael Cheika’s switch of Kurtley Beale to flyhalf, instead of Bernard Foley, and Israel Folau’s wing assignment, that helps groom a second fullback in Dane Haylett-Petty, all have positive Cup preparation overtones.
Cheika’s blooding of 34 new Wallabies since June, 2016 has created the depth to deal with the late withdrawals of Folau, Pocock, Adam Coleman and now Hooper across two Tests.
“It forces you to adapt,” said Pocock, who will now play with Pete Samu at No.8.
“One of the things Cheik has done really well is bring in a whole lot of new talent because if this had happened before the last World Cup I think we would have been in some serious strife.
“We now have a bunch of guys who have been a part of the group, know how we want to play and can slot in.”
Pocock warned how much the Pumas had improved under new coach Mario Ledesma, who was Pocock’s forwards coach with the Wallabies between 2015-17.
“They’ve done exceptionally well to mix that abrasive, big forward pack and good guys at the breakdown with the ability to turn it on (in attack),” Pocock said.