pocock

Anyone see his injury this morning, twisted knee looked nasty.

Hope he isn't going to be out for long at all.

Anyone have an update, I'm having to leave the house real soon and won't get home till tonight?

Didn't look to good, he was sitting with an icepack on the sideline.

Icepack is a good sign!! Hopefully just a knock and he'll be back within a few weeks

Unfortunately the incident took place out of camrera shot, he was being pulled out of a ruck, so i don't think it is serious.

Commentators mentioned six months, but I don't know how that assessment can be made with Pocock sitting on the sideline.

We want Australia's best available XV vs the lions.

This isn't good news.

Biltong

It was a belated clearout from AAC wasn't it, I saw it, didn't look bad he just went down heavily on one side.

Can't imagine why anyone would hazard a guess when the medical team have taken a quick look, and will know more later when he's examined properly, where did 6 months come from.

I hope it's not that serious I love watching Pocock play, Hooper is good but not the same standard!!!

I personally think Gill is better, more rounded than Pocock.

Rounded is one thing, but noone is as effective as Pocock on the floor and for me thats a game changer.

Pocock = breakdown superiority and at least 4/5 penalties per game

No Pocock = Breakdown parity and an even contest.

Not to mention how teams focus so much on how to play against the guy, some teams like to hit it up at him and try to keep him on the floor, others look to avoid him alltogether, that amount of focus from the opposition can't be quantified but the difference is telling when he's not there!

I agree if he is your only pilferer, but most teams these days use more than one pilferer.

An example this morning was Coenie Oosthuizen in the Higlnaders match, he made more pilfers than Brussow, even though they came on at the same time.

Well thats just a 6.5 type doing his job, but Pocock is not just a pilferer, lets not put him in that category.

He is a proven match winner, and makes the difference in tight games, IMHO more effective than Mccaw was for NZ, or Carter, who you wouldnt just describe as a pilferer or distributional 10.

Was for NZ? He's still alive!

Pocock showed what he can do in the SA quarter final if he's allowed free rein. Nullify him and he doesn't stand out in a game like McCaw can because he's not that type of player.

You don't have to stand out in a game to be extremely effective though, Mccaw tended to get a lot of plaudits but comentators for his annoying ruck work, but a lot of it was unfounded IMHO. Not that Mccaw wasn't the best, but he was in no way superhuman as many would have tou beleive.

A little bit like 1/2p currently, seems to win MOTM every other game because of his goal kicking, he just gets highlighted more by comentators.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Was for NZ? He's still alive!

Pocock showed what he can do in the SA quarter final if he's allowed free rein. Nullify him and he doesn't stand out in a game like McCaw can because he's not that type of player.

exactly, Pocock rules when there is no officiating.

Other than that, he doesn't add much else. He isn't a great ball carrier which Hooper or Gill are better at for Australia.

I'm not talking about his ruck work bluesman. I'm talking about his hit ups, his running with ball in hand, his linking play. That part of Pocock's game is simply not there. He is there to steal the ball. Like you say, that's all he needs to do to make a valued contribution. But only when Australia wins. Australia have played plenty of times against NZ in recent times and Pocock's breakdown work has been nullified. Not saying he's the reason for Australia losing but you need to offer more to your game when your team's under the gun.

"Pocock suffers suspected ACL tear"

and

"Waratahs could lose Pocock for Season with ACL injury"

thebluesmancometh wrote:Well thats just a 6.5 type doing his job, but Pocock is not just a pilferer, lets not put him in that category.

He is a proven match winner, and makes the difference in tight games, IMHO more effective than Mccaw was for NZ, or Carter, who you wouldnt just describe as a pilferer or distributional 10.

Oosthuizen isn't a flanker bluesman, he is a loosehead prop. If I recall correctly he was one of the top pilferers in the S15 last season. He is a perfect example of a player that isn't a 7 making just as much of an impact at the breakdown. The best teams nowadays (including NZ) have many players that are effective at the breakdown. Look at England this 6 nations. Look at how many carries and tackles McCaw puts in as well as his work at the breakdown for NZ.

I think Pocock has been largely ineffective over the past few seasons I have seen him. He is definitely not the same sort of player as McCaw. Pocock does one thing, and although he does it (very) well, if you take that aspect out of his game he is pretty average.

Hooper looks like the better player in my opinion. I haven't seen enough of Gill to comment on him.

Yes, suspected ACL tear:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/david-pocock-suffers-suspected-acl-tear/story-e6frg7mf-1226593908643

That's nine months out. What a chance for George Smith to take back what many people feel is righfully his.

Don't get me wrong. I'm gutted for Pocock as he had problems with his knee last season and I'm never happy to see an international player injured. Not sure if it's the same knee but knee injuries are among the worst in terms of time out from the game and your ability to come back after your recovery.

Brumbies are looking good and finally Pocock was playing what looks like to be a decent team. It is sad news for them and the Wallabies, undoubtedly.

The injury seemed pretty benign on tv, but that's how ligament tears occur some times. At the current time, Pocock has not had his MRI, and only a physical exam. So the ACL tear is not confirmed. The physical exam is usually about 60%-70% predictive immediately post injury for an ACL tear. We will know more as soon as the results of the scan are available.

For Brumbies, Pocock goes off and they bring on George Smith. Unbelieveable. Quality to quality.
Smith is contracted to be back in Japan with his team during the Lions tour. If the ARU can negotiate his release for the Lions, then there is no loss for the Wallabies.

doctor_grey wrote:The injury seemed pretty benign on tv, but that's how ligament tears occur some times. At the current time, Pocock has not had his MRI, and only a physical exam. So the ACL tear is not confirmed. The physical exam is usually about 60%-70% predictive immediately post injury for an ACL tear. We will know more as soon as the results of the scan are available.

For Brumbies, Pocock goes off and they bring on George Smith. Unbelieveable. Quality to quality.
Smith is contracted to be back in Japan with his team during the Lions tour. If the ARU can negotiate his release for the Lions, then there is no loss for the Wallabies.

Would Smith (who must be one of the all time great 7s) be good enough still for international rugby after his time out in Japan?

Oosthuizen Who was I thinking of then?

BristolDave,
Smith was playing in Japan, so was still in game shape. He had a good game stepping in for Pocock. And that's with only a few practices with the team. I would think he would certainly be in the picture for the Wallabies. When he retired from international Rugby, he was still playing very well.

BristolDave wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:The injury seemed pretty benign on tv, but that's how ligament tears occur some times. At the current time, Pocock has not had his MRI, and only a physical exam. So the ACL tear is not confirmed. The physical exam is usually about 60%-70% predictive immediately post injury for an ACL tear. We will know more as soon as the results of the scan are available.

For Brumbies, Pocock goes off and they bring on George Smith. Unbelieveable. Quality to quality.
Smith is contracted to be back in Japan with his team during the Lions tour. If the ARU can negotiate his release for the Lions, then there is no loss for the Wallabies.

Would Smith (who must be one of the all time great 7s) be good enough still for international rugby after his time out in Japan?

Saw a bit on Smith in Japan recently Doc and apparently hes a new lease of life with the game- one of the start players in the Jap league. I actually prefer Gill as well as the 7 role is moving slightly away from the pure pilfering role to that of ball carrier as well, something Pocock just doesnt do.

Taylorman wrote:

BristolDave wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:The injury seemed pretty benign on tv, but that's how ligament tears occur some times. At the current time, Pocock has not had his MRI, and only a physical exam. So the ACL tear is not confirmed. The physical exam is usually about 60%-70% predictive immediately post injury for an ACL tear. We will know more as soon as the results of the scan are available.

For Brumbies, Pocock goes off and they bring on George Smith. Unbelieveable. Quality to quality.
Smith is contracted to be back in Japan with his team during the Lions tour. If the ARU can negotiate his release for the Lions, then there is no loss for the Wallabies.

Would Smith (who must be one of the all time great 7s) be good enough still for international rugby after his time out in Japan?

Saw a bit on Smith in Japan recently Doc and apparently hes a new lease of life with the game- one of the start players in the Jap league. I actually prefer Gill as well as the 7 role is moving slightly away from the pure pilfering role to that of ball carrier as well, something Pocock just doesnt do.

Good he has kept up the high standards. I always felt he had more to offer Aus when he left.

LondonTiger wrote:"Pocock suffers suspected ACL tear"

and

"Waratahs could lose Pocock for Season with ACL injury"

Wrong team mate. He plays for the ACT.

I must have misread the headline when I posted the link to the article - apologies.

It's OK mate. Just when I saw the "... " I was wondering whether the standards of journalism had reached new heights.

No just my inability to read allied to trying to show off with the fancy links rather than just copying the url

Didnt hooper play 7 in the autumn and very well.

sickofwendy wrote:Didnt hooper play 7 in the autumn and very well.

Yeah he did. With Smith back Oz still have Hooper, Gill and Smith to call on so its not all bad. Shame for Pocock though and Oz who just continue to keep losing key players.

I see Habanas out for a couple of months as well, stretchered off this morning.

The thing with oz is that when they lose key players someone comes in like hooper in the autumn and plays out of their skin,as long as joc is fit they will probably beat the lions.

Perhaps but they were caught well short at 4N time, the key players clearly needed. Might get away with it against the 6N sides- the Wales tour they had many missing- but it showed elsewhere big time.

Against better opposition sadly.

Possibly but the other side of the coin is the ABs were extremely lucky with injuries and didnt have any first liners out and were also able to bring through 10-12 new players- all with a fairly good level of success- so that made it harder. They did square off ok vs the Boks who also had their share of injuries.

Just want to point out that Wales were actually missing double figures key players in the summer/Autumn too.

Although Oz were demolished!

Oz are typically the France of the SH, the least pedictable of the main four. They have a go when other sides wouldnt dare and Deans is really putting pressure on the ARU to get his squad for a good period prior to the first test. So unlike the Samoa and Scotland 'ambush's' of the last two seasons Oz will be ready regardless of who is in the squad. Thats a key difference between this and last years Welsh tour, where unluckily for Wales Scotland woke them up rather abruptly.

This Lions tour is going to be great but its not helped by a dour 6N.

Tell us about it, blues. Ironically, it has helped us to man up a bit more... similar to what Wales have been forced to do now.

News this morning is that Pocock is out for the season; or 6 months minimum.
Big loss; but I'm not as worried as I would have been with Hooper, Gill and now Smith there to cover for him.

I'm still not sure about Smith, he was ok today but I don't see all the plaudits everyone else does.

Hooper wasn't great either, how did Gill get off? Havn't seen him this season yet!

McCaw on one foot bloody outplayed Pocock. Davey is a one trick pony. Don't allow him to steal ball and he's useless.

Question is, if Pocock is available, how would you combat him and Hooper at the breakdown? Go with two opensides (Warburton and Tipuric) or go with a big, physical back-row (Wood, SOB, R.Jones)?

Linebreaker wrote:Tell us about it, blues. Ironically, it has helped us to man up a bit more... similar to what Wales have been forced to do now.

News this morning is that Pocock is out for the season; or 6 months minimum.
Big loss; but I'm not as worried as I would have been with Hooper, Gill and now Smith there to cover for him.

Yeah British press go on and on about pocock being the big issue for lions to deal with, but I think hooper is just as good if not better at 7. Haven't seen him play yet this season though, did he have a bad game yesterday vs the brumbies?

I heard this afternoon he'll be out for 9 months now.

Hooper didn't have one of his better games. The Brumbies pack controlled the Tahs at the breakdown and shunted them around a fair bit.

Ye Hooper was poor yesterday, but I think opensides can get dragged into games they don't want to play sometimes, happens to the best of them and like LB says the Brumbies pack bossed them.

Morgannwg wrote:Question is, if Pocock is available, how would you combat him and Hooper at the breakdown? Go with two opensides (Warburton and Tipuric) or go with a big, physical back-row (Wood, SOB, R.Jones)?

Would they ever really have played both of them anyway?

Biltong wrote:I agree if he is your only pilferer, but most teams these days use more than one pilferer.

An example this morning was Coenie Oosthuizen in the Higlnaders match, he made more pilfers than Brussow, even though they came on at the same time.

Will have to watch that, the guy is a SERIOUS talent. Anyone that massive with that work rate could only be a Bok!

Hood83 wrote:

Biltong wrote:I agree if he is your only pilferer, but most teams these days use more than one pilferer.

An example this morning was Coenie Oosthuizen in the Higlnaders match, he made more pilfers than Brussow, even though they came on at the same time.

Will have to watch that, the guy is a SERIOUS talent. Anyone that massive with that work rate could only be a Bok!

Or Gethin Jenkins. Or AWJ.

thomh wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Question is, if Pocock is available, how would you combat him and Hooper at the breakdown? Go with two opensides (Warburton and Tipuric) or go with a big, physical back-row (Wood, SOB, R.Jones)?

Would they ever really have played both of them anyway?

Yeah I think so. Seemed to go quite well for them on their last tour to the NH. Pocock is ruled out of the Lions visit now it seems. Aus could still go for the two open-sides in Gill and Hooper though. Then there's George Smith if Deans feels like re-calling him. Otherwise I'm guessing Dennis, Higginbotham and Palu will partner one of the number 7s. The depth in Australian rugby has certainly increased.

There was a serious possibility that Pocock may have lost the shirt to Smith, Gill or Hooper in any event. I mean, it's good news for us but we shouldn't be measuring up the trophy cabinet just yet.

George Carlin wrote:There was a serious possibility that Pocock may have lost the shirt to Smith, Gill or Hooper in any event. I mean, it's good news for us but we shouldn't be measuring up the trophy cabinet just yet.

???

Smith only got on the pitch because Pocock went down, and it was his first appearance in Super rugby for ages. He was signed to plug a gap not push Pocock, one average game and people are talking like he's a world beater again.

And the contest between Hooper and Pocock was going to be interesting, but noone thinks Hooper or Gill are Pococks standard yet, well not at what Pocock does anyway