Champion flanker David Pocock says he won’t be rethinking his decision to retire from international rugby following the Wallabies’ premature World Cup exit.
Before he turns climate crusader, retiring great David Pocock says he’d be only too happy to offer his opinion on the next Wallabies coach.
While gutted to have bowed out of international rugby with Saturday’s 40-16 loss to England in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, Pocock is adamant he won’t be adding to his 83 Tests in the gold jumper, declaring his battered body has had enough after more than a decade at the top level.
“It certainly takes its toll. You pick up injuries along the way and some of them linger longer than others,” Pocock said.
“I feel like I’ve put a huge amount into rugby in Australia and I’ve got a lot back in return and really feel like it’s time to move on to other things and contribute in other ways.”
The avid conservationist and human rights campaigner isn’t ruling out a future in politics after formally hanging up the boots following the last season of his three-year stint with Wild Knights in Japan.
“I’m interested in a bunch of things outside rugby. The political landscape at the moment is fairly uninspiring when it comes to climate change and those sorts of things, so we’ll wait and see,” he said.
“I’ll have a bit of time to think about it now, then I’ve got the six months in Japan. After that we’ll see. For me, issues around climate change, ecological crisis … there’s plenty to do. I’ll find something and get stuck in.”
Pocock, who has a Bachelor of Ecological Agricultural Systems degree to his credit, admits he’ll miss “parts” of professional rugby.
“There’s something really special about being part of a group that’s so focused on something bigger than themselves, but I’ll be looking to find that elsewhere,” he said.
The champion flanker remains fiercely loyal to Michael Cheika, one of his key allies who signed off on his controversial year-long sabbatical from the game in 2017, and wasn’t impressed by former schoolmate and Wallabies teammate Quade Cooper’s parting shot at the coach.
“If he actually cared about Aus rugby he would have done it a while ago,” Cooper tweeted after Cheika quit his post on Sunday.
“As players I think we always find it disappointing when people on the outside are taking pot shots,” Pocock said.
“There is a huge amount of work that’s gone in and ‘Cheik’ is the kind of guy who goes into bat for his players behind the scenes.
“He is always wanting guys to just focus on their rugby and you can’t please everyone. Everyone has different opinions.
“I have a huge amount of time for Quade. We go way back. But people are going to say what they want, especially when you fall short like we did.
“There is no excuses. We prepared well. We just weren’t good enough on the night.”
Pocock wouldn’t be drawn on who Cheika’s successor should be, but said he’d offer input on the matter if asked.
“Mate as a player, you’re happy to. You’re always happy to give your thoughts and opinions,” he said.
“That’s just a little part of the bigger picture of the strategy going forward and how things are going to look in terms of the structure of coaching in Australia.”
Tim
Guest
Full credit to Pocock’s rugby career he was one of the greats to have pulled on the jersey. That said Far left radicals rarely get elected In Australian politics and if they manage too they don’t last long.
riddler
Roar Rookie
i am a fan of poey. for me though i would like him to go out into the private sector, work for 15-20 years. then come into politics around 50. his values i am sure won't have changed. his work experiences will though. good luck to the lad. amazing player, one of our best and equally good bloke. never seen him being a look at me type for his own gain. full respect and thanks for to the passion, skill and respect you have bought to the green and gold jersey.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Go for it David, I'd vote for you. You'd be a leader with morals and would represent the younger generations like mine far better than the current failing crop! Hope he goes far post rugby.
Keith
Guest
Poey's such an introvert though, not in a bad way, but pretty introverted none the less. Don't know how that will go in politics. Good luck anyway.
In brief
Guest
Throw in a smaller population, higher standard of living, greater freedom of speech, a real democracy (not just run by the big end of town), and some wonderful iconic places which are now lost forever such as Millers Point, The Rocks, the north shore of Sydney etc
Andy F
Roar Rookie
After the RBA introduces QE next year and the base interest rate sits at a nominal 0.5% the market will rise. Companies will lift EPS through buybacks. When they reserve bank slows QE and tries to raise interest rate asset prices will fall, they will blink and QE2 will be initiated. So a depression might still be sometime off. It is on the horizon though.
sheek
Roar Guru
Sigh.....
aussikiwi
Guest
Sheek, you self define as being in the centre, and others as being extreme. Very comforting for you. Those definitions are ill defined, subjective and self serving, particularly given how far the so called 'centre' has shifted to the right in the last 40 years.
piru
Roar Rookie
All the very best of luck to him. The more good people involved in leading the country the better, and I believe him to be a good person.
piru
Roar Rookie
No offence intended Sheek; was just curious as I'd not seen anything he's done or said that would indicate communist sympathies
sheek
Roar Guru
Bully for you, give yourself a medal. I'm an old dog & a curmudgeon. I'm also optimistic, but only in a realistic way.
sheek
Roar Guru
Piru, What I actually said was: "Because as far as I can make, Pocock is far left in his political beliefs, he's gone past green & might possibly be red". Emphasis on 'might possibly'. Nowhete did I say he was actually red. I wanted to use the watermelon analogy for a bit of fun, because I like the analogy. I admire Pocock the rugby player & humanitarian. I don't care for his left/green politics. Good luck if he enters politics, but he won't get my vote. And for bunratty's info, I am politically central. Sometimes centre-right, sometimes centre-left. It depends on what the economy requires But I definately have no time for the extremes of politics, or for the extremes of religion, culture & any other extreme human behaviour.
aussikiwi
Guest
The group of which you speak self defines as being "centre", so anyone to the left of them is "red".
aussikiwi
Guest
Exactly. My first house cost just over 1 year's salary (average Aus). The same house now would cost 6 or 7 times average annual earnings.
piru
Roar Rookie
Jokes aside, why do you say he's red Sheek?
dirtyrottenscoundrel
Guest
Anyone born between 1981 and 1996 (ages 23 to 38 in 2019) is considered a Millennial, and anyone born from 1997 onward is part of a new generation. Well you certainly don't look as though you qualify as a new gen, I'd hazard a guess by your pic you wouldn't qualify as a Millennial. So it definitely leaves you in the OLD DOG category. Pardon me if you're not as old as you look. By the way I am definitely an OLD DOG and optimistic.
piru
Roar Rookie
I think you're a pillock
Flyman
Roar Rookie
Couldn't move him because he was helped by the ref.
Hertryk
Roar Rookie
I always knew this was his agenda when he left Perth for Canberra..
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Hmmm...not very likely!