THE MAGNIFICENT SEVENS

NIK SIMON looks ahead to the collision of the world’s best opensides

BREAKDOWN

No one has come close to David Pocock as the turnover king at this World Cup. The Wallaby has made 14 steals, eclipsing Richie McCaw’s six. His tree-trunk thighs and huge upper body make him difficult to shift when he jackals over the ball — usually resulting in a penalty or a textbook turnover. McCaw is an expert at protecting his own team’s ball, so the contest is likely to boil down to who reaches the collision area first unless the All Blacks can find a way to smash Pocock off the ball.

DAVID POCOCK 9 RICHIE McCAW 8

LINK PLAY

McCAW tends to have more touches of the ball, often running good support lines to be in position for an offload. Australia use Pocock, who is the front-runner for player of the tournament, as a destructive weapon rather than a constructive link-man. His back-row colleague Michael Hooper usually makes more metres in attack, but there is no question over Pocock’s carrying strength with his squat 18st frame.

POCOCK 7 McCAW 8

LEADERSHIP

This is where McCaw comes into his element. The 34-year- old — who is seven years senior to Pocock — has developed an aura throughout his career. Referees can be reluctant to question the No 7, who has a reputation as a master rule-bender. The hype surrounding McCaw’s 148th and final Test will add to his leadership inspiration. With interests in climate change and gay rights, Pocock is one of the most thoughtful and rounded sportsmen and is also an influential character.

POCOCK 7 McCAW 9

SET PIECE

To accommodate two opensides in the back row, Pocock has been shifted to the unfamiliar position of No 8. Unlike natural No 8s, he rarely picks the ball from the base of the scrum, but has been key to Australia’s driving line-out — steering the maul from the back, resulting in two tries. At the line-out, McCaw edges Pocock despite both players being 6ft 2in, providing his team with a useful option as fifth jumper.

POCOCK 7 McCAW 7

TACKLING

iN both packs, blindside flankers Jerome Kaino and scott Fardy have topped the tackle counts for the back-row. Given Australia’s tougher run to the final, Pocock has made more tackles than McCaw, although both are reliable in defence. The No 8 often stands slightly behind Hooper, allowing his team-mate to make the hit before he gets over the ball.

POCOCK 8 McCAW 8