'I just don't think we can go too deep in the competition having Hooper and Pocock in the same back row starting'
Wallabies legend Tim Horan believes David Pocock should come off the bench at the World Cup and doubts Australia can go deep into the tournament by starting him alongside captain Michael Hooper.
Coach Michael Cheika started both in the the back row in four matches at the last World Cup four years ago and in other games.
While Australia reached the final in 2015, questions remain over the impact playing both simultaneously has on the lineout and Australia’s back row balance.
“I’d actually prefer David Pocock to come off the bench, I think in a World Cup team you need a big back row,” Horan said on Tuesday.
“Michael Hooper captain, yup, (No.8) Isi Naisarani has been going well, who’s the six?
“Has Lukhan Salakaia-Loto done enough at six to earn that spot again? It probably depends on who you’re playing. You might have a David Pocock on the bench and bring him on at halftime.
”I just don’t think we can go too deep in the competition having Hooper and Pocock in the same back row starting.”
While Cheika on Tuesday was still exploring the possibility of England-based lock Will Skelton being included in the World Cup squad to be named on Friday, Horan advocated removing restrictions on overseas-based players.
Skelton isn’t contracted to Rugby Australia, and doesn’t meet the 60-cap Giteau Rule threshold for players attached to overseas teams,
“I get the Giteau rule, I get the 60 Test matches, but I’m a big believer in a World Cup year you should be able to select anyone from around the world,” Horan said.
“Where they are playing it doesn’t matter. Get the best team that gives us the best opportunity to win a World Cup.”
He insisted uncapped highly rated young back Jordan Petaia should make the squad.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a risk selecting Jordan Petaia, I think he’s going to be a sensational player and he could be one of the great players,” Horan said.
He suggested Australia’s prospects of success in Japan could depend on the weather, after the Wallabies floundered in wet conditions against New Zealand in Auckland last Saturday.
“Hopefully if we get dry pitches in Tokyo and around Japan we’re a really good chance of going deep,” he said.
“Because we’re not wet trackers, we don’t play well in wet weather conditions.”
Horan tipped South Africa as the World Cup winners and England as the pick of the northern hemisphere nations.
– AAP
Comments on RugbyPass
RIP big man 🙏
1 Go to commentsThe GB coach. “Just because we don’t get together as much as other teams we don’t use that as an excuse for performances when we don’t hit the mark”. Why mention it at all then?
1 Go to commentsNo mention of the yellow card for Harlequins which really cost them.
3 Go to commentsThought you’d left us Nick. Good to have you back writing for us. So hunter ikitau works? I reckon wright kellaway as two of the back 3. Tim Ryan and Toole looking good for strike winger but I still want the power of korobeiti and figure our forwards still need him to help them out. Million dollar question is who plays 10? I’m thinking Noah for his kicking and combo with wright. Reckon the pair adds up to an attack and kellaway will help. Can you comment on Zac Lucas in Japan? How is he going?
1 Go to commentsMack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
3 Go to commentsInstead of apologising, try to act like an adult, fcknut.
3 Go to commentsLooks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
5 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
3 Go to commentsThe game was already over leave the bloke alone ….from a Welsh fan 😀👍
3 Go to commentsShamefully the Toulouse players acted like footballers, falling down feigning injury at the slightest knock. About time refs penalised this play acting.
8 Go to commentsAnother non Scot for the anti Scot Townsend. Soon there will be no Scottish born and bred players in the National team.
3 Go to commentsGreat comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
3 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
3 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
5 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
5 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
5 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
16 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
16 Go to comments