David Pocock could take sabbatical from rugby in 2017

OK, my apologies for doubting the value of your opinion on another thread.

Makes for an interesting character though. Class act.

Not for a rugby club there isn't though.

In saying that, how Hansen approaches Pocock with the likely trio of Cane, Kaino and Read will be interesting this year. The tactic in the end was to basically let Pocock do his thing albeit with as much pressure as they could apply and make the gains elsewhere.

'That’s not good enough in my book. All Blacks earn this right to a sabbatical by years of service on the pitch, Pocock is an incredible talent and should lay claim to best player in the world over the coming years but surely he needs to string a few seasons together in his prime before he claims a break from the game?' Pocock has been a contracted professional for 10 years now when he was 17 in 2006 and picked up his first test cap in 2008. Joe Roff capped at a similar age to Pocock took a year off around the same age to go to Biarritz and Dan Vickermann did a bit of study mixed in with some Rugby in England.

Can't happen.

You can't easily label anyone the best player in the world and the nearest to it is that who has had the most impact on the game 'as an impression' across a wide spectrum of people. The only players I've known to do that in the last twenty or so years would be McCaw and Lomu and at time's DC and Johnny Wilko. There are times the average rugby follower would spit out one of those names. Pocock had that briefly during 2011 and 2015 so he's definitely up there, and could well be that now with the others departed. He has the chance to secure that 'impression' this year. But what we also found out with Pocock is he leaves rather large holes in the areas he does not excel at in a way that the others didnt to as greater an extent. The overall performance of the Wallaby back three left them short in two many areas with the combinations they chose. For instance Pocock did not fulfill the typical no. 8 role- a lineout addition and a ranging offensive and defensive option. He maintained a position of always being one off the breakdown so he could have the best opportunity to regain or retain the ball. In that role he reigns supreme, possibly the best ever. But the second and third matches versus the ABs last year left the back three well below their opposites across the board. If they're going to play Hooper and Pocock again this year, they will need a much better no. 6 that can cover those shortfalls. As good as Fardy can be, as a trio they didnt put the numbers up.

If he could be persuaded to do a proper 3 year course at either Oxford or Cambridge, he'd be England qualified in time for 2019. Just saying.

"You still generally need somebody to create something out of nothing in order to win" Yeah, like a pilfer (or forced penalty from a pilfer attempt) that gives you an easy kick for 3. Your reasoning is ridiculous. By your logic the best cricketers have to be all rounders. No Shane Warne, Lara, Tendulkar, De Villiers, Smith, Kholi.

Gday Pete. I noticed your opinion about SeanMc and avoiding BD from yesterday. I have somewhat a different impression. I dont think you'll find him anywhere near the midfield. and seems to relish the contact area. I think though he hasnt (yet) focused on fetching.

'Nah. Not suited to anywhere but 7.' He can play that role while Hooper is fannying out in the centres. Wallabies need to find a meat axe to play 6 to do the ball carrying and hitting rucks.

Strange. Are you a professional rugby player David, or not? To leave this early for a sabbatical when you've missed so much time for injuries suggests that you're playing it both ways. That's not good enough in my book. All Blacks earn this right to a sabbatical by years of service on the pitch, Pocock is an incredible talent and should lay claim to best player in the world over the coming years but surely he needs to string a few seasons together in his prime before he claims a break from the game? That being said, an unpaid break from rugby is his business alone but it's a strange thing to do for a player with his obvious drive and determination to be the best. Study will still be there post his Wallaby career and his days might be numbered, one never knows how many times a player gets to pull on his nations jersey. I guess he'll go with whatever is most important to him. I hope it's study (from an AB fan's perspective)

Is there ... what? *grinning*

Thanks for sharing this ROAR guys. I still dont know what to make of this, I believe an unprecedented move. I think it is a bit disruptive, especially as Aus Rugby is in the process of "rebuilding". Poey is the strike weapon of the Wallabies. Wallabies should be starting to shore up more competitive players with Poey as anchor. I think its a bit like Richie McCaw taking a year off in the mid 2000s whilst the ABs were starting to really get their act together.

What prop has been dominant against all comers? Olo Brown. I thought I just said that TWAS. Watch him against teams like the English, Bok, France etc. Only strong against weak opposition? The AB's can beat weak opposition with their C side. When Olo Brown was playing the AB's got their ball on a plate, giving them all the time in the world to do whatever they wanted. And the opposition scrum was always under the pump on their put in. He was the corner stone of the scrum. Another thing, you see Olo take the ball in to a ruck, you never see him lose it. That is something people normally only attribute to the Bok players and a few of the big lads from england. On top of that, at scrum time he was a rock and I have never seen him beaten. He may not be held in high regard by you TWAS, but as I say, in the AB's and Blues, he was the first player picked and everyone in both those teams were damned grateful for it. It is not all about busting tackles and putting in the big hits. And I think that is what PK is getting at.

Agreed Jeznez. He can equally be considered a little selfish and ungrateful by some too. But in all honesty, the only thing that is required of him is that he fulfills his contractual obligations and after that it is entirely up to him. "All he is asking for is a year off before committing to his next one" Are you sure Is that all he is asking? Sounds like he might be looking for a retainer too, to buy his loyalty. Anyway I was just commenting on the suggestion that he is mentally fatigued from being under the strain of a run of injuries and that I think that is pretty soft. I also think Pocock is made of sterner stuff than that, but then again... maybe not :-).

He's got a contract until the end of 2016. He doesn't "owe" the Brumbies anything. A young man wants to take a year out to study st Oxford and the club wants him to forgo that opportunity? There's more to life than football.

what prop has been dominant against all comers though? All good props are dominant against weaker opposition. They may scrummage a poor scrummaging team into the ground. Can they scrummage a good scrummaging team into the ground? A player like McCaw had impact on both sides of the ball, irrespective of opposition. I'd argue again similarly, the quality of your props is only really relevant when they aren't good enough (a poor one will lose you a game more so than a good one wins you games).

The great Jason Leonard (the 'Funbus' - over 100 caps) always replied without hesitation when asked who was the most difficult prop he ever played against - Olo Brown.

I was only talking about mental challenge in regard to a sabbatical being quite different from a couple of years of rehab. I don't know his motivation, it could be that he has had serious back to back injuries and then fought injury issues during the World Cup and wants a physical break. He may just want to live in a different country for a bit. He may just want to do the study. His partner may have an offshore opportunity. Who knows? I think he is showing sufficient loyalty in playing out his current contract. All he is asking for is a year off before committing to his next one. He is one of the top players in the world at the top of his game and can ask for whatever he wants, there is zero certainty he'll get it but he can ask for anything.