- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Wallabies will have their best chance of winning a third Rugby World Cup if David Pocock is at his brutal best.
A team effort will be required to lift the William Webb Ellis trophy, but a firing Pocock will be New Zealand’s worst nightmare.
That is why the only way New Zealand can really guarantee victory is to nullify Pocock’s influence. The only way I can see this happening is by the All Blacks pushing the limits of legality around the breakdown.
I will be looking out for Richie McCaw, Dan Coles and co to be doing their utmost at keeping Pocock on the ground. Holding his jumper, grabbing his legs and the smallest of restrictions at every moment possible to limit his effectiveness on the ball. These split seconds will prove the difference in a match that otherwise should be closely fought.
McCaw has made his money pushing the limits of the law, and let’s face it, the position comes with the territory. We all know that pushing the boundaries at the breakdown is what a quality No. 7 should do.
There is a lot to look forward to in this match as a Wallabies supporter. Even with a loosely nullified Pocock, his mates that make up the ‘Fardy Pooper’ trinity will be aiming to make up any lost space. Along with Pocock, Scott Fardy was immense against Argentina and has had an amazing tournament.
He has played a masterful blind side flanking performance, always present in attack and defence but quiet in comparison to the team’s No. 7.
Targets will be on the heads of Pocock and Bernard Foley. New Zealand people are talking about them and the All Blacks are paying attention.
How the breakdown will be policed is anyone’s guess, but Nigel Owens will set the tone early. Owens is known to deny any funny business, particularly off the ball. McCaw is a magician of acting without action. He won’t be leaving anything to chance in his last All Blacks Test. I am talking about McCaw because I fear his involvement the same as the Kiwis fear Pocock.
The officials have been very tough on cynical play at this tournament so the illusions will need to be spot on to avoid the wrath of Nigel’s whistle. Let’s hope the game isn’t decided by the number of innocuous yellow cards handed out.
It might seem a touch simplistic to put the game’s outcome on one area of the match, but that is where the battle will be fought. Australia will need to be better under the high ball that will come from Ben Smith all day, and Israel Folau’s confidence will need a boost to get the job done.
There is no doubt the two best teams are in the final and New Zealand will need to be beaten. For the first time in a long time the augurs speak positively to the Wallabies fortunes. On neutral ground, with the right attitude and the most experienced team ever, the dream is closer than it was before.
They just need to go and take it.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.