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.
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.
web
Roar Rookie
Neither play 6.
web
Roar Rookie
Old man raises his arm and yells at clouds.
Jamie
Guest
Absolute Nonsense !! it doesn't matter how old your are. You`re good enough, you`re old enough. Petaia is 19 and was selected to tour without any game time in 2019. McCaffrey and Higginbotham were the best 6`s available. Fardy left as Chieka doesn't like him. Cheika doesn't like him Higgers either. As i said, they are better than Dempsey and LSL. One is soft and the other a lock. Got it now ? :laughing:
Chris
Guest
Let me think about it.I`ll get back to you.
Stu
Roar Rookie
Yes.. It seems that way. Aside from all the arguments, I can't imagine Pocock/Hooper/Naisirani would be a better backrow than, say, Fardy/Pocock/Naisirani (I'm aware Fardy's not eligible, but for comparison, I think he's the best 6 we have, and who knows what Poey does at 6?). But perhaps they will be as good or better - I guess we'll find out. Pity both can't be compared in real terms.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Ok. So we agree Pocock’s game is not affected by where he plays in the back row?
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Sad. If 1 of the four were Simmons does he count?
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I guess I would focus on internationals and super rugby over the last 6 months primarily, with the longer view being the entire season up to this point. Exceptions exist for someone like Pocock, who was injured most of this year, but whose form last year and coming back from extended absences his entire career has been fantastic.
Peter
Guest
Fionn, as a serious question, where do you see the cut-off between “form” and “reputation and past glories”? Five Tests ago? Ten? Some would say that you are only as good as your last game - i.e., form only lasts for one Test. Some would say that even one Test is all in the past and therefore “reputation.” Looking forward to your thoughts.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
That was for just one match. I can’t reveal my sources, but I know it was a one match thing and afterwards it was all in the past.
Markus
Roar Rookie
I get the feeling that packing down in the front row would have done the opposite of reducing Pocock's injuries over the years.
web
Roar Rookie
As a Brumbies fan I loved Fardy. Got photos with his Mum and Dad after the 2015 England match at Twickenham. Don’t quite know what happened in 2016. Larkham dropped him suggesting rotation, which clearly was nonsense. Loved to have seen him stay longer, great leader and brilliant communicator.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Unfortunately, he went after he was told he wasn’t wanted mate. Or at least they are the whisperings I have heard, which Nick’s cryptic statements seem to suppprt.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Back rows operate as a unit. The idea of strictly defined and unique roles for 6, 7 and 8 is old fashioned if in fact it ever existed outside of Rugby 101 videos. For every successful team that had “traditional” 6, 7 and 8 (whatever that is) you’ll find one where the roles and skill sets merged, blended, swapped or whatever. You might have noticed that 1s, 2s, 3s, 8s and backs also jackal these days? Is Pocock better than Hooper? Personally I think so. Is Pooper the perfect pair of breakaways? No, I don’t think anyone thinks that? But when was the last time Aus rugby had a top notch 6 and 8 that would complement Pocock? Probably when Pocock was a lad. In the meantime Hopper is easily one of our 4 best backrowers (I’m going to throw a boot at the next dipstick who says “seagull”) and IMHO our second best.
web
Roar Rookie
Sorry Fionn Self correct
web
Roar Rookie
Fiona, If Nic Bishop says that’s the reason Fardy isn’t playing more often at 6 then fair enough. Unfortunately Fardy chose to go overseas after 37 tests and is not eligible.
web
Roar Rookie
Educated? Fardy played 37 tests and headed overseas-his choice. Valentini is 21 has played three or four games of Super Rugby. Higginbotham has been given opportunities by Deans, McKenzie and Cheika - never embedded himself. Higginbotham struggled to keep up with the pace of Super Rugby this year. McCaffery was very good for the Brumbies until injured and lost momentum. Care to enlighten me anymore?
Jamie
Guest
web. You just got educated . Fardy is currently one of 4 6`s that should have been in Clowns 31 squad. Dempsey is made of balsa wood and Lukhan is a lock. Meanwhile Fardy Valentini Higginbotham and McCaffrey are twiddling their thumbs. Clown i blame you for this debacle and only you. :angry: :thumbdown:
Chris
Guest
4 in the 23 is still too many Tahs.
Locky
Guest
Since becoming a Tah Simmons has always been selected. ( FACT ) Clown never selects QC.