David Pocock has been accused of deliberately stomping on All Black captain Richie McCaw’s head during the first half of the World Cup final.
WATCH THE ALLEGED BOOT IN THE FACE IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
The incident happened in a frenetic time in the match. The 25th minute, where Dan Carter was hit high in a tackle and Matt Giteau went off the ground with concussion. Just before New Zealand was awarded a penalty for Carter’s high shot which referee Nigel Owens had been playing advantage for, Richie McCaw grabbed hold of Pocock’s leg and the Australian shook it free and struck McCaw in the process.
With everything going on, the referee appeared to miss it but McCaw does hold his face and looks around to see if it has been noticed.
The vision of the alleged ‘stomp’ is in the very bottom left hand frame of the screen so it’s hard to determine Pocock’s intent.
Predictably there was mixed views on social media with some claiming there was clear intent from Pocock while others didn’t think the Wallaby star was even looking at McCaw.
Either way with the attention on the incident, World Rugby will no doubt be taking a closer look and trying to use more of their available camera angles to determine if a possible red card offence was missed.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
He was made in Zimbabwe !
dsat24
Guest
I refer you to my second sentence.
Mr.Media
Roar Rookie
Mr. Poocock should explain himself too. Not sure what use these touch judges are, maybe they should just go back to putting up their flags. Never mind, Pocock's boot was probably made in China so it's not going anywhere anyway!
kelefua
Guest
It appeared to be intentional as the footage shows Pocock looking down just prior to him placing his boot on McCaws face. McCaw initially looked at the touch judge for a reaction but got none. He then had a choice to raise it with the ref and we all know it would've been reviewed on the big screen. But he didn't and play continued. McCaw was rightly yellow carded for a trip in a earlier match and many posters here carried on about how dirty a play that was but it seems they excuse Pococks action here as an accident? Pocock it seems is not immune to producing foul play. But hes not the only player to have these brain snaps as other great players have done the same.. All Blacks, Wallabies & Springboks included. As a AB fan I really admire Pocock as a player and all the accolades he receives is justified. After seeing this is hasn't changed my opinion of him. It's just one of those brainfart moments that even great players have.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Eyes ? Looks down before looking and moving forward.... geesh.. thats why his action can reasonably be deemed deliberate..
Ryanno
Guest
Yeah nah. Australia has overachieved to be anywhere near that final and the 2003 version. NZ has gone into every RWC as favorites and only come away with the cup 3 times out of 8 tries. The current NZ team are rock solid obviously but plenty who came before have choked on the big stage.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Yep
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Hahahahah
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Okay - 4 more beers !
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Coaches fault for picking little blokes... kerevi should have been in there...
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Bad tackling technique is what it was - blame your coach... you know, that coach of the year bloke...
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Clearly intentional , those claiming otherwise clearly are showing horrible bias... and pocock has form...
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Intentional - end of after citing....
Chris Guy
Guest
Right next to the fush
ShaghaiDoc
Guest
If you are lying on the ground with Poocrook stading over you and you know his grubby listory of stomping, kneeing and elbowing people you'd probably grab his foot too. I agree with those who say deport the grub. Australia does not need the likes of Pocock, Clarke and Haddin who have helped add to the lagacy of poor Australian sportsmanship. No wonder Oz has to pay millions to get on the UN Security Counsil while NZL does it on a regular basis for almost free.
ShaghaiDoc
Guest
After viewing the stomping on McCaws face and kneeing the Welshman, after the stomping of McCaw in 2011, after.... Pocock has form and I suspect has no testicles.
Larry
Guest
No not a stomp, but you try hang on to someone's legs while they are desperately trying get away and you can't avoid copping a boot scraped across your face. Richie knew the risk and to his credit he isn't complaining about it or calling it a stomp like some of the clowns on this site.
Brad T
Guest
GeoffBriz, "stomping, albeit it accidental" - that doesn't exist. Stomping is a deliberate action, anything other than deliberate is not stomping. No one condones stomping and the citing official as well as Richie and Pocock have all moved on and know it wasn't a stomp.
Brad T
Guest
Understanding what is and isn't foul play is very important, especially in a contact sport. Since there was not citing, at least in this incident it's pretty clear that it was not foul play, at least on the part of Pocock.
Well
Guest
Chris, sounds like you have a big chup on your shoulder.