WALES TARGET DUO TO END AUSSIE HOODOO
IF WALES are to rid themselves of a decadelong hex against Australia, they will need to flush ‘Pooper’ down the toilet in Cardiff. The infamous duo of breakdown beasts David Pocock and Michael Hooper are set to combine for the Wallabies again this Saturday. Australia have beaten Wales 13 times in a row, winning every match since 2008, with the pair of flankers often at the heart of victory. With Sam Warburton — an expert jackaler — now retired, the onus is set to fall on the likes of Justin Tipuric, Ellis Jenkins, Dan Lydiate and Ross Moriarty to rid the rucks of gold shirts. And despite his old sparring partner exiting stage left, the Wallabies’ chief pilferer Pocock is ready for an onslaught at the weekend. ‘I’ve loved playing against Sam over the years, a great player,’ he said. ‘Clearly a great leader who has contributed a huge amount to Welsh rugby. Tipuric and Lydiate are pretty handy though. It is always a great battle at the breakdown against Wales. ‘I rate Tipuric, he gets through a lot of work and his timing is really good. ‘The way the game is played these days, the breakdown is a big part of it. ‘New Zealand are good at attacking the breakdown and slowing it down and that is what both teams will be looking to do. ‘I love playing alongside Michael. I really rate him as a person, captain and player. ‘We have worked hard at getting the combination working as best it can,’ he added. However, Wales must devise a plot to stop them. ‘They have very famous players in those positions with Hooper and Pocock but others compete as well,’ said defence coach Shaun Edwards. ‘I’m on the sideline, so I am not trying to knock him (Pocock) off the ball! ‘He is incredibly strong, low, squat, incredibly powerfully built.’