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Should Pocock have to earn back his starting spot?

Who should start at 7 against the Welsh?

  • Hooper

    Votes: 46 79.3%

  • Pocock

    Votes: 9 15.5%

  • Gill (So Scotty doesn't think this is another conspiracy)

    Votes: 3 5.2%
  • Total voters
    58
  • Poll closed .
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Shiggins

Shiggins

Simon Poidevin (60)
Train Without a Station said:
According to http://www.rugbystats.com.au the 2012 stats for pilfers is as follows:

1. Liam Gill - 16
2. Michael Hooper - 11
3. Coenrad Oosthuizen - 9
4. David Pocock - 8
5. Deon Fourie - 8

Pocock missed a couple of games through injury and Hooper didn't start every game so I think they played about equal amount of game time. To say Pocock steals the ball every other time he goes for it, is either inaccurate, or he gets to the breakdown significantly less than Hooper. In addition we have seen this tour that Hooper often leads the counter-rucks when we have won the ball back. The stats clearly prove that Pocock is not significantly better at the breakdown, in actual fact, Hooper steals more ball. In addition he has a ground all round game.

To pick Pocock over Hooper and attribute it to him being better at the breakdown is delusional. Pocock has some qualities superior to Hooper and while I wouldn't, I could understand why some people would prefer him and wouldn't consider it a bad selection decision. But don't say it's to gain breakdown superiority.
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How many steels has hooper got at test level? Your craaaaazzzy. Pocock is a juke better then hooper at the breakdown. Pocock played hardly no games in s15 and that's where those stats are coming from. The fact he is on that list states that he is amazing at it considering it was from 6 games or something like that
 
T

Train Without a Station

Guest
Shiggins said:
How many steels has hooper got at test level? Your craaaaazzzy. Pocock is a juke better then hooper at the breakdown. Pocock played hardly no games in s15 and that's where those stats are coming from. The fact he is on that list states that he is amazing at it considering it was from 6 games or something like that
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How many steals did Pocock get at test level this season? I seem to remember a discussion after the Bledisloe Cup encounter where he failed to get any, that he appeared to be losing his impact in that regard this season.
 
Hugh Jarse

Hugh Jarse

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
The referees seem to be coming down hard on the defender (pilferer/fetcher) at the tackle contest.

They seem to be giving the benefit of doubt to the Tackled Player and demanding that there is a "Clear light" release between tackle and attempted pilfer. That vital 2/10ths of a second to demonstrate "Clear Release" is all that is needed to miss out on the pilfer turnover.
 
T

Train Without a Station

Guest
I agree, which explains Pocock's lack of dominance in this area in test football. In addition, you don't see McCaw pilfer the quantity he used to. This makes a 7 who has more facets to his game even more valuable.
 
BDA

BDA

Peter Johnson (47)
Pocock 'defensively' is as good as it gets. He gets the Wallabies out of trouble more than any other player. im not sure what the stats are at test level, but it seems like he gets at least 1, or more, clean steals every game, has a huge workrate and a 'mccaw like' ability to slow the oppositions ball at the breakdown.

I certainly wouldn't drop Hooper. He's been our best player since the start of the RC. Particularly in attack. He consistently makes linebreaks and gets over the gain line. Whilst hooper is specialist 7, i actually think he'd do a great job at 6.

I think you have to try to find a way to fit both of them in the same backrow. I think theyd complement each other quite well. Pocock in defense and Hooper in attack. The difficulties of playing 2 specialist pilferers have been well discussed in this forum. No question it wouldn't be an ideal option for every game. But they are both big game, manofthe match, players.

Pocock on the bench this weekend though. Gill falls out of the 23. Nothing wrong with Gill. Gill has done a good job in his first year. No doubt still finding his feet at test level. He's going to get plenty of opportunities in the years to come. For now he should make way for pocock...but hooper shouldn't
 
Viking

Viking

Mark Ella (57)
I definitely agree with Pocock being as good as it gets defensively. Hooper is superb in attack and is so mobile, and to top it off his workrate is freakish. He's like a little energiser bunny. But I still think Pocock is the better player, he just seems like a stronger and harder player, which i feel is much better for Test rugby. I think Hoopers Super XV stats will probably always be better then Pococks, but defensive is a must for test rugby and Pocock is king! (not that Hooper is bad, he's exceptional, but he's no pocock)
 
Dave Beat

Dave Beat

Paul McLean (56)
Each player has his strengths, the debate could go on - draw.
It is a team, the best player comes down to our game plan and the opposition.
 
USARugger

USARugger

John Thornett (49)
If Pocock gets hurt at all during this match and Deans isn't fired within the week I might have to stop watching the Wallabies for a little while.

Seriously Dingo? Fucking seriously?
 
Braveheart81

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
USARugger said:
If Pocock gets hurt at all during this match and Deans isn't fired within the week I might have to stop watching the Wallabies for a little while.

Seriously Dingo? Fucking seriously?
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The injury he has been overcoming in the last few weeks is a minor calf strain suffered at the start of the tour. The knee has reportedly been fine for quite a while.

It is the medical staff who should be questioned, not the coach. They will be the ones providing the reports on whether players are available for selection. If the coach doesn't listen to them I think it is a bigger problem. You have to have faith in the people you hire as experts.

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As Lee Grant said in the match thread, starting Pocock is the conservative move. If he struggles, you have Hooper to replace him. If you start Hooper and bring Pocock on with half an hour to go and something happens, you don't have a seven to replace him.
 
B

brumsfan

Sydney Middleton (9)
I saw those stats but I also watched the game a couple of times, I only counted hooper missing 1 tackle, he missed none last week. You also have to consider that hooper tries to reach players with speed that no other 7 would get close to, is that a miss? He doesnt miss much in the defensive line. I think in every game he has started with perhaps 1 exception he has made the most tackles and the most running metres for a forward. Those are stats that pocock will never achieve regularly.
With all the talk about steals I'm assuming pocock will get at least 5 this week. Hooper and McCaw have similar stats for steals and forced penalties.
 
mudskipper

mudskipper

Colin Windon (37)
Wallabies need fresh legs... I guess regardless of injury concerns Deans calls upon Pocock... and by the way gents, Pococks knee isn't match tested let alone test match tested... I hope he pulls up well after the match...
 
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