Pocock on bench for pool games, says Smith
DAVID Pocock should be a super-sub for Australia’s two biggest World Cup pool games so the Wallabies’ investment in a settled back-row can pay off.
The big call comes from Wallabies great George Smith, who says Pocock’s comeback should bubble along from the bench against Fiji and Wales in Japan.
Smith’s views came in Sydney yesterday when helping to launch the blanket World Cup coverage of sports streaming service Kayo, which can deliver live and on-demand coverage of all 48 games of the World Cup instantly to a fan’s two favourite devices.
Smith’s upbeat view of the Wallabies’ came with a specialist take on the back-row to face Fiji in Sapporo on Saturday week.
Going with Michael Hooper, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Isi Naisarani, the back-row that started the opening four Tests of the year, makes perfect sense to Smith.
“I’d like to see that trio rewarded because the time put into a combination has them working fluently,” Smith said.
“It looks like they understand their positions and roles, like Lukhan running out wide on some occasions and working in tight when needed.
“To me, Lukhan has matured into a fine player with his consistent game time and I’d like to see some pick-and-stick with the back-row.”
Pocock enjoyed a strong hour in the tune-up Test against Samoa – his first game time in six months.
He’ll play part of the Test against Fiji and be sized up for a bigger role against the zealous Welsh at the breakdown.