The short answer to the question about David Pocock and his sabbatical intentions is this: let him go and study at Oxford or Cambridge for a year and develop Michael Hooper, Sean McMahon and Jarrad Butler as his successors in the Wallabies back row.
We have a fair idea how this sabbatical is going play out for Pocock from the evidence of what happened when Daniel Vickerman, a player with a similar life and playing history as Pocock, took a similar path in his rugby career.
Vickerman, in his prime a dynamic and dominating second-rower, suffered serious shoulder injuries in 2006. He came back, like Pocock from his injuries, to play for the Wallabies in the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He suffered subsequent injuries in 2008 and left to study at Cambridge University.
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Vickerman returned to the Wallabies in 2011. He played strongly for the side in the 2011 World Cup but never with the effectiveness of his early years. He retired in 2012 from stress fractures in the tibia of his right leg.
My guess is that when/if Pocock comes back to Australian rugby in 2018 that he will go through a similar playing and injury trajectory as Vickerman.
Although he is currently injury free, Pocock wants to take 2017 off from playing rugby. He wants to take a study sabbatical to prepare himself for his life after rugby as an advocate for environmentalism.
Full credit to him for this. But he has to understand that he is jeopardising his career as a rugby player.
The Brumbies have made it clear that they are unhappy with this break. Remember, the Brumbies gave Pocock a big contract in 2013. Pocock was injured that year. He came back in 2014 and during his third game damaged his anterior cruciate ligament.
This meant that Pocock had endured two knee reconstructions in two years. And as a consequence of these injuries, Pocock has played 19 matches for the Brumbies in three seasons.
Brumbies chief executive Michael Jones has been quoted in The Daily Telegraph as saying this: “It creates all sorts of problems if Poey takes the break. My preferred solution, and our offer to him, doesn’t allow a break.”
It is hardly any wonder that the Brumbies want Pocock to play through for them until the 2019 World Cup in Japan. For through no fault of his own, admittedly, Pocock has not fulfilled the playing obligations of his contract with the Brumbies.
The etiquette in these matters, where injuries prevent a player from giving due value to his rugby franchise on the field, is for the player to somehow reimburse the franchise, if possible, with his next contract.
This is a matter of etiquette. It is not a matter of obligation.
Pocock, like every professional rugby player, has the right to dictate the terms of his contracts if he is in a position to do.
The ARU have entered the discussions with the inference that if Pocock wants to take a sabbatical at Oxford or Cambridge, then this should be allowed, without too much prejudice.
In other words, the ARU is not doing hand-stands about losing Pocock for a year. But if this means he comes back to Australia for 2018 and 2019, then this is what has to happen.
There is the possibility that after his sabbatical Pocock might take the money in Japan or France rather than come back to Australia. Pocock has expressed the view that sometime in his career he would like to play rugby as a professional overseas.
The complication here for the ARU (and for Pocock) if Pocock does remain overseas after his study year is that he does not qualify for Wallabies selection under the Giteau 60/7 rule. From his first representation for the Wallabies in 2008 up to the 2015 World Cup final, Pocock has played 55 Tests for Australia, some five Tests short of the Giteau Rule mark.
According to ARU chief executive Bill Pulver: “Clearly David Pocock is one of the world’s best players, if not the world’s best player, so suffice to say we are very eager to keep him in Australian rugby.”
We need to subject this sort of extravagant praise with some reality.
Pocock is a very good loose forward. He has played some terrific games for the Wallabies, notably the quarter-final against the Springboks in the 2011 World Cup.
Pocock, also, played splendidly in last year’s World Cup, although he was outplayed by the All Blacks loose forwards in the final.
The argument can be made, too, that the current No.8s for New Zealand, Italy, France, England, South Africa and Japan are better players right now in this position than Pocock.
And if you are looking at Pocock at No.7, then Michael Hooper, Liam Gill and George Smith are three Australians who are right now as good in this position as Pocock.
Pocock has two great strengths to his game: he is incredibly strong over the tackled ball and he is a superb tackler. These are great strengths and they make Pocock a formidable player when play is running his way.
However, he contributes very little to the lineout as a jumper (unlike Hooper). He rarely influences play on the wider areas of the field (Hooper/Gill). He isn’t particularly effective as a runner or passer (Smith).
There is the other consideration, too, to all of this. How likely is Pocock to last through to the 2019 Rugby World Cup without a major injury?
If I were in Pulver’s chair, I would try to encourage Pocock to come back to Australian rugby after his sabbatical. But I would insist that any rugby he played in 2017 is confined to university rugby only. And I would not engage in a bidding war with Japan or France for his services.
To be honest, Pocock will be playing in his third Rugby World Cup if he gets through to 2019. It is most unlikely that he will be the force in Japan that he was in New Zealand (2011) or England (2016).
The Wallabies should be looking to Hooper, McMahon (particularly) and Butler for 2019.
A Wallabies back row in the next World Cup, after all, is likely to be confronted with, say, an All Blacks back row squad loaded with young guns like Sam Cane, Ardie Savea and Akira Ioane.
One of the weaknesses of Australian rugby in the last ten years has been an inability for talented players to kick on and become absolutely world class in their play. Only a handful of Australian players in this time (Adam Ashley-Cooper comes to mind as an example of a complete, world-class player) have really come through to best-in-the-world status.
Pocock deserves consideration as a great player. But the ARU has to realise that he represents the past of Australian rugby.
Hooper, McMahon, Butler and others with potential to come through (if given their chance and good coaching) represent the present and future of the Wallabies.
RobC
Roar Guru
Anyone interested. ABC has a show on Poey tonight 8pm. I think its the first of a 2 partner
Boz
Guest
Some stats from RWC 2015 outlining the attacking contributions of 7s and 8s from SANZAR. They aren't perfect given different oppositions and time on the field, but paint a reasonable picture that Poey makes a lot of runs but doesn't make much ground in attack compared to the other 7s and in particular the number 8s. McCalman is our best attacking player in those positions, especially given that his stats were mostly achieved from the bench with less time on the field than the others had. http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/stats/2015/players Pocock Carries 41 Carries over the gainline 15 Metres 45 Defenders beaten 5 Offloads 2 McCalman Carries 33 Carries over the gainline 20 Metres 96 Defenders beaten 5 Offloads 4 Hooper Carries 32 Carries over the gainline 14 Metres 67 Defenders beaten 7 Offloads 2 McMahon Carries 14 Carries over the gainline 5 Metres 86 Defenders beaten 6 Offloads 1 McCaw Carries 40 Carries over the gainline 16 Metres 106 Defenders beaten 4 Offloads 3 Reid Carries 61 Carries over the gainline 36 Metres 163 Defenders beaten 4 Offloads 2 Vermeulen Carries 65 Carries over the gainline 29 Metres 275 Defenders beaten 12 Offloads 2 Burger Carries 96 Carries over the gainline 38 Metres 199 Defenders beaten 7 Offloads 8
Boz
Guest
He plays as an openside flanker, even when he plays 8, it is his job to be first or second to every ruck, but what really matters is beating the opposition flanker there. That is where the All Blacks beat us in the final, their loosies ensured quick ball by beating our guys to their own rucks and created havoc by beating them to ours. I don't know where you guys get the idea that he is much of an attacking player, from the stats I saw before the NZ Herald took them down, he only ran about 40 meters all World Cup. He seems to just run straight into a wall of forwards most times, he doesn't seem to have much of an idea of how to position himself for effective attacking runs. He could learn it though if he tried, he is quite quick and very powerful when he gets going
taylorman
Roar Guru
Difference being Zero that mine is an opinion about Pococks game, and I think an accurate one. All you want to hear about is a box of fluffies. Pocock does not fulfil the role of any position in terms of its full skilset. He played no. 8. No.8s are expected to have some lineout ability. Compare his lineout ability to Read, Parisse, and many past and present number 8's. He doesn't rate. So his selection as a number 8 means his side is sent in with a need to cover that element off somewhere else, or go in with potentially less jumpers. Do you consider that a derogatory or disrespectful comment.? It's been said Lomu couldn't kick, chip or defend well. Is that an accurate statement or a disrespectful one? As a pilferer everyone agrees he's the best, possibly the best ever. I don't see that as being derogatory or disrespectful. Because he's required to attend as many breakdowns as possible, the aim being either to secure or pilfer the ball, he's not required to play the wider support role so is hardly ever on the end of a long range movement as you'd expect of a good loosie. Read, McCaw, Hooper...all examples of those who might be on the end of a long passage in either attack or defence. Because you don't see Pocock in that role, someone else has to do it. Pocock is also a very strong ball carrier and defender, but mainly in the tight, or around the fringes of the breakdown or set piece. He may be good out wide but the point is he doesn't usually go there so it's not a strength. I just don't see how anyone can be rated as worlds best when they lack of don't perform key roles for the position they are playing, especially when other players do. There's a reason oz's loosies got outplayed at Eden park and the final and Pocock has a part in that even if he happened to be the best individual of the six loosies on the day. The ABs would love to have Pocock in the mix but they would also ensure the missing qualities were catered for. That oz can't do that easily doesn't exclude it from being a critique of his play. They trade off in areas they can't cover off. That happened in both the final and Eden park.
Zero Gain
Guest
Not even close. A completely different type of player and no where as valuable in true test match rugby. A very good player but Pocock is amongst the best of all time in my opinion.
Zero Gain
Guest
You won't find me being derogatory or disrespectful to any NZ player, or any other player. Maybe to rude obnoxious posters occasionally, but never to players. Go on search, you will only find me saying things like the "Great Sir Richie" and referring to the ABs as the "best team of all time".
Alex
Guest
"The complication here for the ARU (and for Pocock) if Pocock does remain overseas after his study year is that he does not qualify for Wallabies selection under the Giteau 60/7 rule. From his first representation for the Wallabies in 2008 up to the 2015 World Cup final, Pocock has played 55 Tests for Australia, some five Tests short of the Giteau Rule mark." Somehow I think he is going to play the 5 tests he needs for the 60/7 rule this year
vic rugby
Guest
I despair when australia is looking to 2019 and worrying about pocock. Is it inconceivable that talent could be developed in that time? pocock got broken last year super rugby semi and rwc final. A talented player no question but i think he will look to wind down his career and look to other challanges. There is no doubt the aru will throw plenty of cash at him but that has proven fruitless in the past if the players heart isn't in it.
PeterK
Roar Guru
it is also rubbish that he cannot play wide. When play goes wide he still makes a lot of rucks in attack and defense. He just does not attack wide.
Markus
Guest
Note that I said Pocock was our second best attacking forward, not is. I would also normally have rated other Wallabies forwards higher in the attacking stakes than Pocock, but if you go re-watch the semi and final, Pocock put in more carries than anyone, while the majority of the players you list were MIA.
Utah
Guest
Hear, hear. Bizarre article to say the least.
Utah
Guest
He is not too slow to attacking breakdowns. That is rubbish. He is first or second most rucks. You should try reading ForceFan's articles.
Boz
Guest
I would add McMahon and Slipper as forwards with more to offer in attack.
Taylorman
Guest
And balance summarises your posting does it zero? Odd way to make a point.
Zero Gain
Guest
Wow, open your eyes, they are all black from a total lack of balance. There is a pox infecting almost every Kiwi observer, it causes them to be nothing but derogatory and disrespectful to even the most brilliant opposition players.
Boz
Guest
(Ed, please disregard my previous unfinished comment). Pocock isn't the second best attacking forward, I would rate Sio, Moore, Kepu, TPN, Smith and McCalman as all being more damaging runners and Moore, Kepu and McCalman all have better skills and decision making too. Pocock is too slow to get to attacking breakdowns too, getting beaten to those by the Kiwi loosies played a big part in the Wallabies losing the final. Poey is a very good player but has a lot of work to do to get to the next level.
taylorman
Guest
Past traumatic events prevent me from allowing Ben Smith to move to Centre. I don't really think his best skills are in distribution so much as what he does with the ball when he's got it. He's good at timing his run onto a ball and making yards when he gets it but setting up runners isnt his strong suit in the tight. Plus he's built up a massive high ball game so that would be wasted as well. I know what youre saying about Crotty. He and Ngatai would be the 'safest' option for Hansen but I Hansen has proved hes not scared of selecting someone he thinks might have X factor rather than playing the safe ground. In my opinion Fekitoa is the only one that has that at the moment, Ranger not consistent enough for me yet. I think theres someone else out there still and this year is the perfect opportunity to find him.
Peter Hughes
Roar Rookie
Totally agree with Markus & PeterK here. And can't understand the claim by a few that Pocock does not have great impact as a ball runner. I never said he's as effective as Hooper but it's an area Pocock greatly improved since his return in 2015. Throughout all of 2015 he made many great & damaging open play runs & almost always made it well over the gain line. He was a good link man & made some great off loads as well. Add that onto his strengths at breakdown, defense, leadership abilities & the package made him the world's most valuable player of 2015 imo.
Trebla
Guest
Is there two Spiros? I remember a Spiro who waxed lyrical over Pocock as an enequalled loose forward, the best in Australia and the world. This was before and during the World Cup. But now this Spiro suggests he is not that special, there are many players as good or better than him. I am confused. But luckily I watch the games myself and make up my own mind. Pocock is good enough to do as as he likes with his career.
dan in devon
Guest
His value lies in his ability to win turnovers. In rugby these moments can be decisive to the outcome of the came. In the UK, most rugby commentators would agree that Pocock is exceptional in this area. The world cup final is hardly good or bad evidence of Pocock's effectiveness - the All Blacks 2011-2015 are a team without peer in the history of rugby.