Before the start of this World Cup David Pocock had played 44 test matches. In those 44 games, he had made 387 tackles with a success rate of 97% missing only 12 tackles.
He is arguably one of the most influential players on any pitch at any given time. Both Richie McCaw and Graham Henry have in the past articulated the fact that teams change their game plans to accommodate Pocock due to his influence at the breakdown, often teams will target him and force him to make the tackle so he is not able to get over the ball.
This year in Super Rugby Pocock pilfered the ball 11 times and was second overall in turnovers through the competition. Saying the man is a master of his art would be an understatement.
He was sorely missed against Scotland despite the efforts of two other formidable back row forwards in Hooper and Fardy. Even missing two of the two games Pocock is the lead pilferer of the tournament so far.
For this reason, his return to the Australian team will be vital in the semi-final against Argentina and if they are successful in the final against two fearsome back-rows of either the All Blacks or the Boks.
Cheika said today that “[Pocock] has run pain-free today, which is always a good sign with calf injury… We’ve been really conscious of making sure we don’t push too hard… We just need to make sure everyone’s right.”
When asked whether he thought the Wallabies could win the World Cup without Pocock, Cheika mentioned others who had stepped up to the place, such as McCalman and stated that he was only looking as far as Sunday’s game for now.
Despite dodging the question it could be argued that Pocock is Australia’s essential man.
Israel Folau, one of the most threatening backs in world rugby, also missed the Scotland game yet Kurtley Beale showed he could more than adequately step into his shoes and put in a solid defensive performance yet did not bring the attacking tenacity we are used to from him, which was on show against England in the group stages.
Also despite Foley’s majestic performances in the pool stages he had a poor game against Scotland with poor kicking from the tee and a charged down kick that led to a Scottish try.
An attribute of this Wallabies team that could not really have been said with any meaning before Cheika took over 12 months ago was that they had a squad with depth.
There are a number of players that if the Australia team had to do without they would survive. David Pocock is not one of them.
The most obvious, and still painful, example of Pocock’s influence on the game was against England. Pocock was immovable over the ball every time England entered the Australian 22, stifling England’s momentum and instantly allowing gains in territory.
Overall the Wallabies had nine turnovers against England and Pocock had an influence in every single one of them. In modern rugby the breakdown consists of the majority of the game, either going forward if you have the ball or defending if you do not.
Unless you can control the breakdown you will not win the game. By slowing the ball down when the opposition has it, Pocock gives his team time to realign their defence, furthermore when he has the opportunity he puts his strength and low centre of gravity to good use and become immovable.
Despite all the statistics and analysis what truly sets apart Pocock from the rest of the world and makes him the essential cog in the Australian machine is his intelligence of play.
He knows the referees, he understands the attacking structure of the other team and he bides his time before making a move to slow the game down or steal a turnover.
His return should strengthen the Wallabies in their impending game against the Pumas. A fun final fact courtesy of the Green and Gold Rugby Forum is that David Pocock did not miss a single tackle in his test career until his 14th cap for Australia.
