Pocock's demolition of 'Boks shouldn't be overlooked

Fairview, I agree that the All Blacks have played the cup well and did indeed step it up several notches in this game. More credit to them. For a long time ABs gave the impression that they could not translate their clear advantage in test series to the particular requirements of tournament rugby - no longer. "No offence meant – Pockok (or however his name is spelt) could do nothing tangible to the All Blacks" Pocock played as well as anyone on the Australian team. Therefore your comment says nothing at all about Pocock as a player. "he only knows illegal rules." An ignorant comment. Pocock is a world class No 7, at least as good as Brussow, Warburton or McCaw. Like them, he plays to what the referee allows. Last night his game was comparable to McCaw's. Of course he didn't have the impact that he did under Bryce Lawrence - that was to be expected. "He cannot tackle – he falls with full body weight like a sack of potatoes and hopes that’s rugby" More ignorance, and one that the referee last night obviously would not agree with. "Like he got away with in the game with the South African Bokke." As did the Bokke themselves. You can't blame Pocock for taking the latitude that the ref allowed, any more than you can blame Matfield, Rooussow or Burger for taking that same latitude. They all played the same under Lawrence. And re your final gibe at the Wallabies - I suggest to the contrary that there are quite a few Saffa supporters who need to "become men first", before they comment!

Nothing funny about today's clash between Wallabies & All Blacks. It doesn't take much logic to work out that the All Blacks had the world cup in the eye this season. They relaxed when they knew they could - and played to win when it was necessary, Absolute brilliance to witness the All Blacks step up at least ten gears for this last match - ouch! A questionable observation was to see how many supporters New Zealand had from South Africa? Surely that says something about the two gigantic rugby nations knowing very well what the game's actually about.... and aware of the rule-book. No offence meant - Pockok (or however his name is spelt) could do nothing tangible to the All Blacks...... he only knows illegal rules. He cannot tackle - he falls with full body weight like a sack of potatoes and hopes that's rugby... wow!! Like he got away with in the game with the South African Bokke. No such luck as sour grapes et al everybody - clearly, if Australia want to achieve by the book - I believe they can. Unfortunately - they need to become men first! Cheers!

Brentie, Any decent referee would have "rained penalties and yellow cards" on all of the Bokke forwards. There is no point complaining about Pocock playing in accordance with Lawrence's loose refereeing when your forwards did exactly the same thing. "Today he was cut down to size by a rampant forward pack and a referee applying not the rules but the laws as they should be applied." No, he wasn't, actually. Both Pocock and McCaw played to the level of the refereeing, as good No 7s do. Pocock didn't have a bad game, particularly by the standards of the Australian team as a whole, which lacked cohesion and did not respond well to some quite good pressure by ABs. "Well done Joubert." I agree, one of his better games. Like all the top referees he has had some shockers in the past, but nothing to complain about here.

That's right Gareth - if the Boks had played the Wallabies under a tight referee, Boks would have been penalised off the park. Naturally Pocock wouldn't have shone then, because there would have been no need for him to do so. I agree entirely that Pocock's prominence in that game was due to the loose policing of the rucks by Lawrence. Its something that Australians have complained about for a while. But the Bokke forwards took full advantage of that loose refereeing and they have no right to complain against it just because penalties weren't awarded in their favour - plenty more could have been awarded against them. I thought Pocock was one of the better Australian players last night (not a lot of competition in that department of course :)). He did what a No 7 should do, and played pretty much to the referee, as did Richie McCaw. That is exactly what you would expect with tight refereeing.

Any decent referee would have rained penalties and yellow cards on Pocock.Today he was cut down to size by a rampant forward pack and a referee applying not the rules but the laws as they should be applied. Well done Joubert.

Hi Aussies and writer of article! What do you say about your mighty Pocock now? Best quote of the day "A blood substitution. IT'S IN THE RULE BOOK." Brilliant. To be fair - Pocock is a REALLY good player...but give credit where credit is due. Bryce Lawrence won the Aussies that game against SA. I've heard many an Aussie say "SA beat themselves by not using their scoring opportunities." Uhm, I notice New Zealand only scored one try, yet the score reflected their dominance due to them being JUSTLY AWARDED PENALTIES!!!! I actually rooted for Aus in those last 10 minutes...would have been great if you could have pulled a win from the hat. You should have subbed Cooper... but let's see what happens against Wales. Have a good week!

Considering how quickly he hit the deck when Paul Williams pushed/palmed him in the head against Samoa I'm extraordinarily surprised the accidental knee to the head didn't see Brussow being carted off to hospital on a stretcher.

If you look at the last interpretation, the defending team had even more rights than now, which lead to the Bulls getting a couple of titles because it suited their play to a tee. I guess the point is, it could be worse (too much advantage to the defending team means teams will kick it away rather than go into the contest). I can see where you are coming from . However, I don't see a problem with the current interpretation. Sure, the ball can get slowed down, but teams without fetchers slow the ball down just as much, if not more. Maybe after the world cup the IRB needs to sit down and have a look at it, but it's too late in this tournament to change now.

I didnt read it all cos there is alot and seems to be a good old sa vs aus debate going on. Pocock is great theres no doubt. But lets remember brousow, who i think is better at the break down but pocock is a much better all round player, wasnt on the field. I thought he could have been penalised a few times but the great flankers all get away with, like McCaw has for years. You cant call him a cheat if the ref doesnt do anything.

Ash. Overrated talent is still over-rated. Ash. Proof that talent without hard work does not equal perfomance

Yeah it's not really fair. If anything this sought of thing will only spur him on to play even better. Not ideal for AB or SA supporters I would of thought. :)

Pocock was immense. It was arguably the most dominant defensive display by any one player since Webb Ellis picked the football up off the turf and had a run all those years back. But as good as a display as it was by Pocock, it was just the opposite by out number 10. Copper looked as fragile as a sao and is a big worry leading into sunday. Kicking game severly lacking in potency and he put us under pressure everytime he caught the balöl and was swarmed as he is so weak in the tackle. Can't wait for Sunday though, should be one for the ages. Good lighthearted preview of the match here. http://therestijustsquandered.com/2011/10/13/4moreyears/

Yeah, I'm sure Hougaard agrees that they did a great job tackling low, though he was kind of small and does like to duck under the tackle so I guess the big locks had to bend down to tackle him. The Aussies did wonderful things in the turnover situation. Possibly the most technically perfect performance ever seen on a rugby pitch. There was one ball that absolutely shot out the Australian side of the ruck like a bullet, right in front of Bryce Lawrence. Amazing what a rugby ball can do.

Eh, I don't think Pocock's style of play. I think Australia put in a huge defensive effort against the Boks and Pocock was a deserving MOTM, but it doesn't change the fact that I don't like the way he plays. A hell of a lot more people don't like the way Richie plays so I don't see why anybody cares.

Richie McCaw in his prime didn't play under the same laws as Pocock. Why should the arriving player be allowed to keep their hands on the ball after a ruck is formed? Why should the support players have to clear him out? In Richie's pomp, as soon as a ruck was formed you had to release. Whether it's intentional or not, Pocock goes off his feet at times and ought to release the ball. Naturally, he doesn't but that doesn't really bother me. Nobody else agrees with me, but I don't think that players who were uninvolved in the tackle should be allowed to be fetchers.

I agree Pocock had to hang on a long time, the tackled player should of been penalised for holding on, if he released the ball as he should of then Pocock would not have had to hold on for so long.

Headline to this terrible ,lets be honest lawrence not pocock won that game ,lawrence will never ref in a world cup again

OJ you have a lot of energy today for a crusade to change the laws of the game to counter the 'negativity' of fresh young David Pocock. Methinks you, some other kiwis, and all of South Africa, protest way, way too much. There is a game of rugby on this weekend. Apparently it is very important. But it may not help your team to try and change the laws of the game before Sunday. It's fun watching you try though.