A new pain in the neck
DAVID Pocock is concerned about his long-term health after his neck was twisted at the breakdown by the All Blacks on Saturday.
A sore Pocock could barely turn his head after the match, having been the target of a neck roll by Kiwi prop Owen Franks in a first-half breakdown and being constantly targeted at the ruck by New Zealand’s menacing forwards.
No incidents were penalised by referee Wayne Barnes, despite Pocock’s on-field complaints, and the Wallabies backrower revealed the Brumbies had also complained to SANZAAR during the Super Rugby season about rival players twisting his neck as a way to get him off their ruck ball.
Asked if he feared his career could be ended prematurely by further neck twists, Pocock replied: “As a player, you feel that after games and it’s not something you want to think too much about.”