Pocock out of Loftus match

WALLABIES star forward David Pocock will miss the rest of the Rugby Championship after breaking his hand in Australia’s win over Argentina in Perth on Saturday.

Scans have confirmed the fracture, ruling Pocock out of the Wallabies’ final two Rugby Championship Tests, against SA in Pretoria and Argentina in London in early October.

The setback continues Pocock’s wretched run with injuries, which include two knee reconstructions, ankle and calf trouble and a fractured eye socket. Team officials say Pocock has a chance to play for the Wallabies in the third Bledisloe Test against New Zealand in Auckland on October 22.

Pocock, who is being played at No 8 this year with Michael Hooper at openside flanker, wanted to keep going in Saturday’s Test against the Pumas, but Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said he had to come off the field.

Australia’s 36-20 win over Argentina after leading 21-0 in the opening 12 minutes was Pocock’s last match at home ahead of his planned 2017 sabbatical from rugby. Sean McMahon and his Melbourne Rebels teammate Lopeti Timani are in line to take over Pocock’s spot at the back of the Wallabies’ scrum.

The Wallabies have a week off before travelling to Pretoria to face SA on October 1. New Zealand have already secured the 2016 Rugby Championship title, but the battle for second spot remains open. The Wallabies are currently second after their back-to-back home wins over SA and Argentina.

Cheika is expecting the Springboks to be difficult to beat in the Pretoria return match.

Australia have lost each of the six Tests they have played against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld, including a 61-22 mauling in 1997.

“We have to work out a really good plan against the South Africans,” the Wallabies coach said. “It will be a cauldron in Pretoria.”