Wallabies flanker David Pocock wants clarity over how neck roll offenders will be punished after being targeted at the breakdown by the All Blacks.
Owen Franks was penalised for the potentially dangerous act when clearing Pocock out of a ruck midway through Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test in Auckland.
However, referee Wayne Barnes didn’t issue a further sanction to All Blacks prop Franks, who was playing his 100th Test in New Zealand’s 40-12 win.
It continued a painful night for the courageous Pocock, whose limpet-like attempts to turn over breakdown ball saw him routinely cleared out in vigorous fashion.
He needed treatment to his neck three times in the first half.
Most concerning was the Franks incident.
Pocock was to have scans in Canberra. It was a familiar postscript for the 30-year-old, who was the victim of multiple neck rolls during Super Rugby this year.
“You feel it after games and it’s not something you probably want to think too much about,” he said.
“It’ll be sore but hopefully it’s nothing serious.
“It’s something the refs had said they were going to really sort of look at. There’s been some penalties …”
The Brumbies put in multiple citing requests this year following neck rolls on Pocock but none were deemed to meet the threshold that warranted a card or suspension.
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen admired Pocock’s skill and bravery but conceded his chance of injury was heightened by the way he played.
“It’s no wonder he’s got a sore neck. He’s got his head over the ball 90 per cent of the time and he’s very very good at it,” Hansen said.
“To move him out, he’s going to take some contact. He understands that, that’s why he won’t be complaining about it.”
Hansen said his players didn’t set out to inflict neck rolls.
He said they usually manifested from bad luck when bodies collided in a fluid, dynamic game.
Perpetrators should be penalised but nothing more, Hansen said.
Jokerman
Roar Guru
They always want another yellow card... “Please sir just one? Give him a yellow for hurting my feelings.”
Ralph
Roar Guru
No, but conversely a foundation of illegal technique is not a good foundation to base requests for protection from the ref on either.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Pocock supposedly infringing doesn't allow for foul play acts against him.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
You reckon it might be because neck roll crack downs were never announced until after McCaw retired?
Hmm
Guest
Steve Hanson is a great coach, but even that comment on his interpretation is a bit unfair. Clearly Pocock is a brilliant player and very hard to clean off the ball, legally that is. A neck roll was simply a last second desperate attempt to blow him off the ball. Perhaps the All Blacks needed to be a little quicker to protecting the ball before he got there. They clearly targeted Pocock neck knowing he is difficult to remove. Weak officiating if you ask me. And, let's say this happened to Read, or Cane... They'd be uproar! An early yellow card would simply eliminate any further illegal activity from the game. Look at when McCaw was neutralised and carded early. Those few games the All Blacks actually went on to lose because they were pulled back in to the rules of the game. It's simple: leave the head alone.
bazza200
Roar Rookie
But if one of our guys has done the wrong thing def penalise them. Everybody head and neck need protection. We can't confuse accident with bad technique. Bad technique is never ok. Still don't know why it was ok to put Izzy on his head only saved by him getting an arm out at least second. in game 1 penalty yet a high shot to the head is auto yellow.
Ralph
Roar Guru
This by way of reply to the simplistic assertion that what we have here is a 'neck roll' problem. Watch the video above which contains two examples. In the first one; Pocock swoops under Aaron Smith onto a ball in the open. He then stands up and drives head first into Aaron Smith, who now has his left arm around Pocock's head and his right arm under Pococks left arm and Pocock starts to drive him forward and to Smiths right. Squire then comes into Pocock from the left against Pocock's body and takes him to ground and Pocock starts turning to his own left getting ready to present the ball. Almost that whole time Aaron Smith has his left arm to Pococks head. But most the movement is from Pocock and Aaron Smith isn’t rolling him at all. I might even speculate on whether Aaron Smith has the upper body strength to roll Pocks on his own. In the second one; Pocock comes in through the gate and gets a hand on the ball, which Retallick has not placed yet. Almost immediately as Retallick goes to place the ball Pocock puts his right arm to ground, as his body weight is far forward and his head his below his hips sealing off the ball - so he is already in no position to support his own body weight. As he supports his weight with his arms he has lost contact with the ball. At this point an AB player clearly has his hand around Pococks head. Then Pocock’s left foot comes off the ground, indicating he now lying on the breakdown (to get his arms free). But he now has two hands around the ball. Then a second AB cleaner arrives and drives up into Pocock’s left side and lifts him off the ground across the breakdown. Pocock has enough strength to carry the ball with him as he is driven sideways over the breakdown by the second AB cleaner. The video has no wider angle to show if this was a ruck, but Pocock does not support himself. What removes him from his 'set' position over the ball is again a second cleaner who gets under his body. In neither case is he simply rolled off using his neck. I am not saying no neck rolls took place, I am simply pointing out the scenarios are a lot more complex than this simplistic narrative - that Pocock is being neck rolled.
bazza200
Roar Rookie
Around the neck is different to what is happening in the ruck with twisting of the neck. Much more dangerous.
bazza200
Roar Rookie
I would say it's not a non issue it is a technique problem and while they are getting away with it they will keep doing it. It was happening a lot to him in super rugby as well. It def should be a yellow card like contact with the head the twisting of the neck is just as dangerous.
Piripiri
Guest
And his arm around BBs neck trying to prevent him scoring??? And not a squeak from the great RM after all his treatment!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Has there been a pattern of offences being seen and not officiated to the law? Or are you just trying to liken a single marginal offence that is regularly missed, to systematic breaches of the laws?
Fionn
Guest
Classic deflection of the issue here.
Dsat24
Guest
Its a big problem in rugby this with hits from the front and grabs to head and neck area at speed in the cleanout. This is the new HIA. Its career shortening to get neck damage and particularly with nerve damage potentially. Barnes let it go all night but its was a difficult situation to referee.
Alistair R
Guest
Yes will it ? And maybe also clarity on his high shot on Barrett as he scored his second try. If you give it, expect to have to take it too.
Misha
Guest
Will this include clarity on his own against Jack Goodhue?