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David Pocock's Super Rugby career could be over
By Online Editors
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar admits David Pocock's Super Rugby season could be over, with a decision to be made in the coming days.
The Brumbies will host one of the biggest packs in Super Rugby on Friday without Wallabies star Pocock, who is still nursing a frustrating calf injury.
Pocock has played just 138 minutes in three games through 14 rounds this season and hasn't featured at all in 10 weeks, but was expected to return after the bye and face the Bulls at GIO Stadium.
The 31-year-old flanker was in Wallabies camp earlier this week and McKellar conceded national team medical staff could end his club season.
The Brumbies have three more games after the Bulls and will also likely play in the finals series, but Pocock could be rested to better prepare him for the World Cup in September.
Pocock is off contract at the end of the season and he is expected to end his Super Rugby career by signing with a club overseas.
"The Wallabies medical staff and Brumbies medical staff will have a chat over the next few days and we’ll come to some sort of clarity there as to where he heads over the next two weeks," McKellar said.
"There’s things we’ve got to look at to see whether he plays Super Rugby or whether we now put his attention towards the World Cup."
The Brumbies have stood tall without Pocock and control their own destiny at the top of the Australian conference.
They'll be boosted by the return of Wallabies lock Rory Arnold from an ankle injury, while back-rower Lachlan McCaffrey will come back through club rugby.
Arnold is the only change to the starting side, while McKellar has opted for a 6-2 split on the bench to contain the Bulls huge pack.
"We're expecting physicality ... scrum, maul, big men running hard, nice and direct. There will be no surprises there in terms of what they bring," McKellar said.
"But the Bulls have a little bit more footy in their game this year. They’re a little bit more dangerous off the cuff and have players who can change a game very quickly.
"(Handre) Pollard is a real threat with ball in hand and discipline has been spoken about because he’ll have you down 15-0 before you know it, (kicking penalties) from 50 or 60 metres out."
AAP
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Latest Comments
The New Zealand performance in the return fixture in 2016 was filthy. A lot of Irish supporters were pretty shocked by it, viewed it as de facto cheating just to avoid another defeat.
Also shocked by the abuse to Ireland, captain, vice-captain and spectators after the full time whistle in Paris defeat, last match.
Sledging is sledging, but that happens during the game and targetting spectators should be completely out of bounds.
The Irish public used to enjoy these matches, even in defeat. Now they are necessary but unpleasant, because NZ apparently cannot accept or respect successful challengers.
Go to commentsThanks for the analysis Nick, thought provoking as usual. Couple of queries though, in the pic where you've circled Williams bind , I'm pretty sure it shows Stuart's knee on the ground, surely that's a NZ penalty? Also having had the chance to watch it again the All Black scrum seeems to improve after halftime, but before either England or the All Blacks replace their props. Not sure if that was the result of Tuipolutu coming on or some halftime tips. Either way this is only Williams second international season, so he'll be better for the experience.
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