The All Blacks have gone a year without having to worry about David Pocock but they’re on high alert for the return of the Wallabies back-row menace in the Bledisloe Cup.
The Brumbies star wasn’t part of the 2017 series as he was on a sabbatical. He returned to the Australian side for the June home series against Ireland and will line up against New Zealand in Sydney on Saturday.
During the Ireland series and his time in Super Rugby this season, Pocock proved he hadn’t lost any of the pilfering prowess that makes him such a pest and threat to opposing sides.
“He’s a great scavenger of the ball,” All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said.
“He’s somebody that we’ll have to be aware of at the breakdown. If we’re not he’ll come in and pinch the ball, so that would be painful.”
One of Pocock’s breakdown adversaries, All Blacks flanker Sam Cane, is also acutely aware of the danger posed by the powerful Wallaby.
“The way he continually bounces back and plays at such a high level is pretty outstanding,” Cane said.
“It just creates an awareness. We’re on more high alert than normal around the breakdown.”
The respect is mutual, with Pocock holding the All Blacks back row in high regard.
“They are pretty handy. They’ve got a great balance between really strong ball carriers and on-ball,” he said.
Pocock watched at least two of the 2017 Bledisloe games while he was in Japan.
“(New Zealand) are the number one team in the world for a reason. They know how to close out games and how to win the close ones and that’s a great challenge for us this weekend,” Pocock said.
Halfback Will Genia said Pocock brought a lot to the Wallabies group in terms of playing ability and leadership.
“You saw at the World Cup in 2015 he was one of the best players on the planet, so he brings what he brings in terms of his ability as a player as well as driving standards off the field,” Genia siad.
Fionn
Guest
Doesn't often happen to Poey, but Furlong is something special. I hope he and Tupou have some battles in the future ?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Wow, Tman! Are you as tough as Kieran Offside Read? I can’t imagine why you would be nervous given the form of the NZ squad across the board, but the amount of chest beating that you and Jacko are indulging in this week leads me to ask: ‘Why?’ You’ve got the best side in the world. Daylight is second. Then there are a couple of countries jostling for attention at the big black table. Then behind that pack there is lil’ ol’ OZ with their furry koala selection policy, and another attempt to win a test without a kicking and passing ten. Yet you feel a need to air a big tough act like this as a show of ‘strength’... . or ‘offsideness’? Or ‘hubris’? Why can’t you just be satisfied with being a fan of the best team in the world? Cmon tell us the truth. Are you for some reason, inexplicably, nervous about the game?
KCR
Guest
Perhaps this was literal, I imagine a ball pinch is painful.
taylorman
Roar Guru
And Reads tackle is better... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fnJFHJRUkbs Put him down so he stays down.?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Thats if you think one player can do that all day sure, but better to have a process... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BiSm_a1etsM&list=RDBiSm_a1etsM&start_radio=1
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes well theres dedicated you tube vids to illustrate how theyve maligned Pocock in the past but the wider gameplan is about putting points on the board. Do that a lot and Pocock becomes irrelevant as he has in most AB tests from a win loss perspective. Pocock cant win tests on his own and like Folau stands out a mile, and oz would be a much better side if they didnt.
HenryHoneyBalls
Guest
Id say the ABs will run at Pocock in order to take him out. I wonder if he has to make the tackle would he be less likely to be in a position to poach at the breakdown.
HenryHoneyBalls
Guest
Here's how negate Pocock at the breakdown: http://rugbylad.ie/tadhg-furlong-greatest-cleanout-ive-ever-seen-david-pocock/ Just get Tadgh Furlong to blast him out of the way.
Fionn
Guest
Of course Cheika will focus on neutralising Barrett. It was evident ever since the 2011 RWC match that the All Blacks have tactics to neutralise Pocock, just as Ireland had tactics to neutralise Folau.
taylorman
Roar Guru
One of the things the Saders did was to keep Marx fairly quiet and that was through applying very good structure across the field, particularly defensively. So if Hansen feels Pocock needs speciall attention then he’ll get it. Trouble with having great players on board is those around him need to provide him enough support to play to his strengths, so one way of ‘neutralising’ Pocock is to ignore him completely, and focus on the weaker or newer players immediately around him. He has options where Pococks concerned, and not all of them involve focussing on him directly.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Chekko will focus on cheap shots , forward passes , offsides , BS and whinging about the referee .
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Perhaps Poey could carry him around up his jearsey . Realistically Pocock won’t worry them much he hasn’t in Super Rugby and Hooper never bothers anyone . Let’s cut the the BS it’s pathetic .
taylorman
Roar Guru
Well maybe if they had a focus on worrying about who they need to neutralise to win. Fact is Pocock has played and lost 16 times out of 19 to the ABs so as impressive as Pocock is the ABs will know him better than you or I ever will. Do you think Cheika will focus on neutralising Barrett, Aaron Smith, Retallick, Ben Smith, Reiko? No, because that not how you win test rugby. You focus on your own game primarily, and perhaps keep an eye on key opponents, and Pocock will be included there, but its not about individuals in the oz side for the ABs. The reason theyll win is if they all execute the gameplan and individual roles accurately.
Fionn
Guest
I think they'll be concerned. I think they know if they can neutralise Pocock in the forwards and Genia and Folau in the backs they've probably won the match.
Jacko
Guest
yeah it appears as tho he got asked a dumb question and gave a "bored with the question" type answer..Then Cane got the same question.......I dont see them being any more or less concerned with Pocock than for any other player as they are familiar with Pooper
Morsie
Guest
Steve Hansen on Mastermind - Special Subject category - "Stating the bloody obvious".
Fionn
Guest
Okay, so this quote made me laugh out loud: “He’s somebody that we’ll have to be aware of at the breakdown. If we’re not he’ll come in and pinch the ball, so that would be painful." I can't believe how disinterested this comment appears :P
JP
Guest
Cheika just refuses to see David Pocock as our best number 7, it`s pick the winger Hooper at 7 again and again and again.
John R
Roar Guru
Cheika should kit Hooper and Pocock both in a jersey with 7 on the back and just let mayhem reign.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Sage, the problem is, by him being at 8 and with our 7 not doing the complete job of a No. 7 and he definitely does not do his core role, then we either have our No. 6 pick up the core role of a No. 8; i.e. taking the ball up and generally backup lineout jumping. Therein is the problem.