Wallabies David Pocock to miss Rugby World Cup Pool C match against Ireland - Rugby News
Wallabies’ openside flanker, David Pocock, is set to miss the forthcoming clash of Rugby World Cup against Ireland on September 17 in Eden Park, Auckland due to a back injury. The unexpected news for the Wallabies has put the club in an uncertain position
for their face-off against the dangerous Irish side. The head coach of Australia, Robbie Deans, told the media about Pococks’ injury hours before the start of the much anticipated match and said that Ben McCalman will be given the role of openside flanker
against Ireland.
David Pocock made his international debut in 2008 and has represented his side in 18 tests so far. The 23-year-old openside flanker also has good experience in Super Rugby thanks to his five-year tenure with the Western Force.
The Australian head coach, Robbie Deans, declared Pococks’ injury a severe blow to his side and said that the outgoing player was a key member of his team. He added that, “It's more of an ongoing irritation than anything serious, scans have shown nothing
sinister, but David is a key member of our group. We would rather give him a bit of time to get it right before putting him back out there.”
While talking about the incoming McCalman, Deans said that it will be a great test for the player as he tries to fill the openside position. He argued that, “Although Ben [McCalman] isn't a recognised openside, he does have some recent background there and
has trained in the role on a regular basis with us this year. We were looking to give him an outing on the openside before our Pool program concluded.”
Ben McCalman is basically a back rower player and has not played any game at openside flankers’ position in his short career of 14 tests.
The new combination of Australia in the Ireland encounter is as follows:
Australia: Kurtley Beale, James O'Connor, Anthony Fainga'a, Pat McCabe, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Radike Samo, Ben McCalman, Rocky Elsom, James Horwill (captain), Dan Vickerman, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu.
Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Wycliff Palu, Scott Higginbotham, Luke Burgess, Drew Mitchell.
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