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David Pocock has retired with immediate effect
By AAP
Former Australia captain David Pocock has called time on his professional rugby career after 15 years. The 32-year-old, who retired from international rugby after 78 Tests following the World Cup last year, has elected not to see out the final year of his playing contract in Japan.
Pocock says he's hoping to continue in grassroots rugby in Western Australia and also his native Zimbabwe. "Rugby has given me so much opportunity," Pocock said in a statement.
"From a start at the Western Force to my years at the ACT Brumbies and the Panasonic Wild Knights, I'm so grateful for the community each of those clubs provided me and the skills I was able to develop.
"It's been a huge privilege to represent Australia and it's really exciting now to see the next generation of Wallabies stepping up."
With a known interest in conservation, the former flanker has already started on his next venture, called the Rangelands Restoration Trust in southern Zimbabwe.
"We're working to build land-use models that regenerate degraded rangelands while creating wildlife habitat and improving the prosperity of people who depend on the land for their livelihoods. This kind of regenerative agriculture is a critical tool in the midst of the climate and extinction crises we are facing.
"There are a lot of people doing great work in this field and we're working to incorporate many of their ideas as we partner with rural communities to improve local economies while increasing biodiversity and re-establishing wildlife migration corridors."
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Latest Comments
Ireland have every right to back themselves for a win. But the key variable has little to do with recent record etc.
The reality is that Ireland are a settled team with tons of continuity, an established style, and a good depth chart, whereas NZ are fundamentally rebuilding. The questions are all about what Razor is doing and how far along he is in that program.
NZ are very close to really clicking. Against England all of the chatter is about how England could have closed out a win, but failed to do so. This has obscured the observation that NZ were by far the more creative and effective in attack, beyond the 3-1 try differential and disallowed tries. They gave away a lot of unnecessary penalties, and made many simple errors (including knock-ons and loose kicks). Those things are very fixable, and when they do so we are once again going to be staring at a formidable NZ team.
Last week we heard the England fans talking confidently about their chances against NZ, but England did not end up looking like the better team on the field or the scoreboard. The England defense was impressive enough, but still could not stop the tries.
Ireland certainly has a better chance, of course, but NZ is improving fast, and I would not be surprised at a convincing All Black win this week. It may turn on whether NZ can cut out the simple mistakes.
Go to commentsFair to say that NZ have come to respect Ireland, as have all teams. But it's a bit click-baitey to say that the game is the premier show-down for NZ.
SA has beaten NZ four times in a row, including in the RWC final.
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