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Return of the Pooper: David Pocock and Michael Hooper set to start in World Cup opener

18th September, 2019
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18th September, 2019
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Four years after the pair were outstanding at the last World Cup, Michael Hooper and David Pocock are set to start together in the Wallabies’ 2019 tournament opener against Fiji.

Multiple outlets are reporting the selection news ahead of the official team announcement tomorrow.

» CONFIRMED: Australia’s team to take on Fiji

Pocock has only played the one Test this year on account of his persistent calf injury, Australia’s warm-up victory against Samoa. The star flanker started that match at no.7 with Hooper resting on the sidelines, but is expected to wear the no.6 jersey against Fiji this weekend with the skipper at his usual openside spot.

With Isi Naisarani to start at number 8, it means Lukhan Salakaia-Loto is the unfortunate omission from the side despite starting in all five Wallabies matches this year at blindside. The Reds forward will instead come off the bench against Fiji.

While Pocock and Hooper were outstanding together in the 2015 tournament, it came with Hooper at openside and Pocock at the base of the scrum with no.8 on his back. The pair have played a number of Tests together as the two flankers, including in last year’s home series against Ireland.

There have been concerns about a lack of running power from the back row in attack which would come with playing the ‘Pooper’ combination.

However coach Michael Cheika and his two fellow selectors, Michael O’Connor and Scott Johnson, must feel the presence of Naisarani makes up for that, and that it’s worth sacrificing some go-forward with ball in hand to gain the advantages in defence and at the breakdown which picking two opensides provides.

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The two played together in Australia’s pool stage meeting with Fiji at the last tournament, a match in which Pocock put in a rare two-try performance.

If he does indeed start at no.6 on Saturday, it means the Brumbies breakaway will have played all three back-row positions in as many World Cups – not that it’s ever really impacted his performance. After playing one of the best games of his career at openside flanker as the Wallabies beat South Africa in the 2011 quarter-finals, Pocock went awfully close to winning player of the tournament in 2015 at number 8.

Elsewhere in the side, it is believed that the Wallabies will revert to the halves combination of Nic White and Christian Lealiifano after the duo were rested for the Samoa match. Tolu Latu has also reportedly earned a start in the front row ahead of Jordan Uelese and Folau Fainga’a.

The Wallabies line-up for Saturday’s match against Fiji will be announced tomorrow.

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