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Wallabies player Will Genia is tackled during the Rugby World Cup Pool C match between the Australia and Italy at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
The Wallabies cannot win the Rugby World Cup without openside flanker David Pocock, and half-back Will Genia. Nor can the All Blacks win without openside flanker Richie McCaw, and fly-half-goal-kicker Dan Carter.
Touch wood, Genia is fighting fit, but the same can’t be said for the other three standouts – Pocock and Carter have lower back problems, McCaw a calf niggle.
The critical decision comes tonight for Pocock, will he run on against Ireland in the most vital of the Wallabies four pool games?
No Wallaby in the current squad, nor those left behind, could possibly turn in better than a 50-60% performance of a Pocock.
Scott Higginbotham and Ben McCalman are the squad alternatives – Beau Robinson, and Matt Hodgson, missed selection.
Blindside flanker Rocky Elsom would be a far better proposition overall switching sides, even though it’s a dangerous ploy.
Ireland skipper Brian O’Driscoll described Elsom as the best he’s played with and against after Elsom’s successful stint with Leinster in 2008 and 2009.
Elsom hasn’t reached that lofty level this season, but tonight would be an ideal time for the Leinster form to kick in.
Ireland’s backrow of debutant Sean O’Brien, Stephen Ferris, and Jamie Heaslip is right up there with the world’s best, and it needs Pocock to keep them under control.
Even though Ireland’s been out of sorts for the past year, and more importantly have lost all four Cup lead-up games to Scotland 10-6, France 19-12 and 26-22, and England 20-9, the men-in-green have a habit of finding an extra leg against the men-in-gold.
And they’ll find it a whole lot easier if David Pocock is a no-show tonight.
Replacing Genia, the world’s best half, is impossible. Luke Burgess, and Nick Phipps, would just be making up the numbers. A 50-60% return from them compared to Genia would be a welcome bonus.
Much the same percentage trying to replace Richie McCaw, the only three-time winner of the coveted IRB’s International Player-of-the-Year award. No other player has won it twice.
In the decade of this award, McCaw has been nominated seven times. Next best are Dan Carter and Brian O’Driscoll with three each.
But McCaw is not only the proven best openside-flanker in the world, with Pocock millimetres behind him, he’s an inspirational skipper.
Just as Carter is the world’s best No 10, and international rugby’s leading pointscorer. Shadow fly-half Colin Slade proved last night in the 13-try 83-7 romp over Japan he’s nowhere near capable of treading in Carter’s footsteps – half Piri Weepu would be a better bet.
So for the sake of the tournament, and their countries, it’s imperative David Pocock, Will Genia, Richie McCaw, and Dan Carter are fit enough to go the distance.
And the distance will be the RWC final on October 23, with all four on duty and strutting their stuff.
Rugby at its best.