David Pocock,Michael Hooper and Scott Fardy have been brilliant for Australia – but so too have the All Blacks triumvirate, led by Richie McCaw
Four years ago David Pocock played a key role in the Wallabies’ ultimately unsuccessful World Cup campaign in original Zealand. When he was injured for the pool game against Ireland, and Australia were famously upset in Auckland. When he returned for the quarter-final against South Africa,it was his pilfering at the breakdown and 26 tackles that helped the under-seige Wallabies edge past the Springboks. They then faced the All Blacks in a semi-final at Eden Park, but he could not stop original Zealand prevailing. Packing down alongside Pocock in the back-row that day was Rocky Elsom.
The 2011 World Cup was Elsom’s swansong in international rugby, and after 75 appearances he never played for Australia again. But the forward has been impressed by the rise of his stale team at this tournament and the resurgence of his former flank partner,Pocock. The Zimbawe-born Pocock’s star has risen at this World Cup as the Wallabies have shone on the way to the final. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com