Pocock to start with Hooper in Oz back-row for opener vs Fiji

David Pocock will start alongside Australia captain Michael Hooper in the Wallabies’ back-row for their Rugby World Cup opener against Fiji in Sapporo on Saturday.

The starting XV announced by coach Michael Cheika on Thursday is almost the same that inflicted a record 47-26 Bledisloe Cup defeat on world champions New Zealand in Perth last month, with the inclusion of flanker Pocock -- who has been struggling with a calf injury and will retire after the World Cup -- the only change.

“I think with the first game of a World Cup, we went for a little bit more experience to be honest, just for this first one” said Cheika, who took Australia all the way to a 2015 final where they lost to New Zealand.

“His (Pocock’s) selection is for this game and after that we’ll work out a team for the next game.”

Both Hooper and Pocock are renowned for their expert work in slowing down and turning over opposition ball at the breakdown, which could prove important against a Fiji side that is at its best playing a quick-moving running game.

Cheika, however, insisted that the inclusion of the two loose forwards was not merely a defensive move on his part.

“There’s a lot of other facets to the game where they can contribute to the team, both in attack and defence.” Meanwhile lock Rory Arnold has overcome a hand injury that ruled him out of the second Bledisloe Cup clash in Auckland, which New Zealand won 36-0, while Nic White and Christian Lealiifano return at half-backs after sitting out the Test against Samoa earlier this month.

The Wallabies play Wales in their second Pool D clash in Tokyo on Sept.29 before games against Uruguay and Georgia in Oita and Shizuoka on Oct.5 and Oct.11, respectively.

Cheika has insisted he will be proud of his team “wherever the cards fall” at the Rugby World Cup after Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle raised the stakes by saying she expected them to reach the final.

Australia’s victory over New Zealand in Perth last month has raised hopes they can go one better in Japan and add to their 1991 and 1999 World Cup titles.

Despite New Zealand turning the tables to beat Australia in emphatic fashion a week later in Auckland, Castle said she was confident the Wallabies could at least match their feat from four years ago.

“When your previous performance was a World Cup final, that is everyone’s expectation,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald in comments published Thursday, despite mixed fortunes so far this year for the Wallabies, who have won three and lost two of their five Tests to date in 2019.

But when Cheika was asked by AFP in Sapporo on Thursday if Castle’s remarks had created extra pressure for him and the team, replied: “You should know me well enough by now that there’s not much pressure.

“I love what I do and am prepared to take responsibility and accountability, always have been for everything I do,” he added, after announcing his team to play Fiji in their opening game in Sapporo on Saturday.

Agence France-Presse


Australia (15-1) Kurtley Beale; Reece Hodge, James O’Connor, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete; Christian Lealiifano, Nic White; Isi Naisarani, Michael Hooper (capt), David Pocock; Rory Arnold, Izack Rodda; Allan Alaalatoa; Tolu Latu, Scott Sio Replacements: Jordan Uelese, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Adam Coleman, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Will Genia, Matt To’omua, Dane Haylett-Petty