Champion back-rower David Pocock is backing under-fire Wallabies coach Michael Cheika but says he has concerns of a different kind over his own neck.
Pocock, who won two Rugby Union Players’ Association awards on Wednesday, offered his support for Cheika as Rugby Australia continues a review of the Wallabies’ poor 2018 campaign.
Its decisions are expected before Christmas, following Cheika’s presentation to the RA board on Monday and feedback from his coaching staff, players and the high-performance area.
Australia won just four of 13 Tests, with Pocock the star of the campaign after returning from a 2017 sabbatical.
Pocock said he had a lot of respect for Cheika but speculation over the coach’s position hadn’t been a distraction.
“There’s probably not a huge amount of value getting players to start talking about it because its a decision for people higher up the chain; it’s really out of our hands,” Pocock said.
“I love the guy, I’ve learnt a huge amount from him so like everyone else we’ll wait and see what happens and move on.”
Pocock suffered from a number of neck rolls through the rugby season and missed Tests against South Africa and England
“It’s still pretty sore to be honest, I usually go away for December, try and get to Zimbabwe,” said Pocock, who was born in the African nation.
“But I decided this year I wanted to spend the time trying to get my body right for next year.
“I recognise that next year is hopefully my biggest year of rugby. I want to be playing the best rugby I’ve played and physically be able to do that.
“I’ve got some real concerns in the neck; it’s caused me a fair bit of grief.
“You’re concerned about not being able to play and in the back of your head, when you talk to the medical professionals they are trying to remind you about life after rugby.
“So it’s something I guess I’m going to have to really manage and be smart with and I don’t even know what that looks like at the moment.”
Despite Australia’s woes this year, Pocock was convinced they would still be a strong challenger for the 2019 World Cup.
“I am. I don’t think a lot of people are giving us a big shot and if you go on results that’s probably rightly so (but) I’ve got a huge amount of confidence in (captain Michael Hooper).”
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah. Exactly.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
TWAS, was Quade ever dogging on his coach? Or was he peeved off with the player power goings on at the time - the "culture was toxic" not the "coach was toxic". I have felt that that issue was never ever clearly explained or examined.
CJ
Guest
As he said, if you go on results... Champion player and human being - and he'll go even better at number 7 for 60 minutes with Hooper coming on as his replacement then with Genia as captain
Marto
Guest
Did he actually dog on him TWAS or are you making up stuff again to suit your narrative. Did he say Robbie was not the man to lead the Wallabies? I think it was along the lines of " toxic culture " that could mean a variety of things Twas and you know that. If he did mean Robbie ( You need to show us he said the name " Robbie Deans " when referring toxic culture " ) .If he did say it , good on you Quade for not being a yes man like everyone else has been towards Chuckles Cheika over 3 years.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Fully agree Pocock's doing very well with his link play now, better than the other open side playing on the other edge. For me the selection blunder it really highlighted was playing Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (the lock formerly known as Tui) on an edge. I'll never forget the baffled look on Cheika's face, complaining about how the AB's killed us on turnover ball, when the entire reason for that happening was playing a lock on the edge and Pocock in a central pod. When Salakaia-Loto stepped down from the season Cheika was forced to switch Pocock wider and it paid immediate dividends. There was no reason to play a lock wide in the first place (even if he was wearing number 6). Just a mind numbingly dumb decision and Cheika's apparent lack of understanding of a problem of his own making showed how out of his depth he and his assistants are.
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
and look were that has taken him
Markus
Roar Rookie
Pocock's link play and ball carrying has been something he has been personally working on improving for years now, starting in the Brumbies environment. I'm not sure Cheika has had much to do with it at all, besides being the beneficiary of it at test level (in spite of it bringing his open side selection under constant scrutiny!)
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Quade?
Marto
Guest
Yeah show me the last current player dogging on his current coach ( If that player wants to stay in the team he wont ). You won`t find one.. Pocock : " I don't think Cheika is the right man for the job " Cheika : " Poey you`re fired !!!!! "
Tooly
Roar Rookie
One too many neck rolls I suspect.
Dan in Devon
Guest
In Pocock's case his words may well be true. He is one of the few players who has actually played to his potential - and we may well say his passing and ball carrying has improved.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Of course players are going to say positive things. And then when he's gone they'll be saying how much happier they are in the new environment.
Cole
Roar Rookie
Diplomatic David. To say he's backing him is a bit rich, he in no way came out and made a big statement about "the plan" or Cheika must be the man to lead us to the World Cup etc. He said exactly what someone with some media training is supposed to say. Lose Cheika and its anyone's bet how we will go next year, lose Poey to injury and it's a certainty that we're stuffed.
Brizvegas
Guest
Very loyal David wish others in the team were similar.