Brumbies keen on making a bid for Pocock

Brumbies coach Jake White got a first-hand look on Saturday night of what he hopes David Pocock can do for his team in 2013 and feels the star flanker could get even better if he comes to Canberra.

The Force captain’s contract is up at the end of the Super Rugby season, with the Wallabies star set to have plenty of offers for his services.

But after the Brumbies reclaimed the lead of the Australian conference with a bonus-point 28-17 win over the Force in Perth, White made it clear he is keen on bidding for Pocock — especially with openside flanker Michael Hooper set to rejoin the NSW Waratahs next year.

‘‘All I’ve done is make it quite clear that we have a place in our roster for an openside flanker because Michael is obviously going back to the Waratahs,’’ White said.

‘‘There’s been talk that David is coming up for renewal in his contract and we are handling it as diplomatic as we can in terms of giving him space.

‘‘If he decides to come, that’s fantastic and if he doesn’t we have to keep going and find another player like Michael Hooper.

‘‘I made it clear from when I took the job that I want people to come if they want to become better players and they can improve their rugby in Canberra.

‘‘It would be wonderful if a chap like David Pocock says ‘I want to come and be part of something that I think is special in Canberra’.’’

For his part, Pocock wanted none of the focus to turn to him after Nathan Sharpe’s final game in Perth for the Force.

‘‘I wouldn’t focus too much on me after this game. It’s all about Sharpey and he has put so much into this club, and you see how much it means to him,’’ Pocock said.

‘‘From my point of view, it was disappointing to put out a first half performance like that even though we showed character to come back.’’

The Brumbies now finish the Super Rugby season against the Waratahs and Blues with both teams out of the finals race.

However, White knows that especially NSW this week will be determined to claim the Brumbies scalp to end their season on a brighter note.

Canadian international Jebb Sinclair came off the bench to score a crucial try as the Stormers stayed top of the Super Rugby South African conference with a hard-fought 27-17 win over the Lions at Newlands yesterday.

The Stormers were under severe pressure against the southern hemisphere competition’s bottom team as they clung to a threepoint lead with 12 minutes to go.

The Lions mounted a 16-phase move which took them close to the Stormers line before a turnover enabled Stormers fullback Gio Aplon to clear with a long kick downfield.

The momentum changed as the Lions were forced to concede a five-metre scrum and two attacks by the Stormers broke down before a steal by Deon Fourie set up Sinclair for a try in the corner after 71 minutes.

Peter Grant’s conversion gave the Stormers some breathing space and they sealed victory with a try by right-wing Gerhard van den Heever six minutes later.

The Lions, whose New Zealandborn coach John Mitchell was suspended last week after a player revolt, outscrummed a Stormers team hit by injuries and illness, but captain and No 8 Josh Strauss bemoaned a lack of discipline.

‘‘Our scrums went well and stopping their drives was good. If it hadn’t been for our discipline and giving away too many penalties it could have been a different game,’’ said Strauss.

Stormers were lucky to lead 10-3 at half-time. Five-eighths Grant and Elton Jantjies exchanged penalties before Aplon scored a converted try after 30 minutes.

Strauss burst through for the Lions eight minutes after half-time and the Lions stunned the Newlands crowd into silence before Sinclair’s late try.

Lock Franco van der Merwe scored a consolation try for the Lions in the last minute.

‘‘It was a tough week with late withdrawals,’’ said Stormers captain and inside centre Jean de Villiers. — AAP