Selectors face tough calls as Pooper combo fails to fire at ruck time

It’s the one area Australia has had the wood over rivals in recent years but one Wallaby breakdown thief believes World Cup referees are nullifying the team’s most potent weapon.

Have we seen the end of the Pooper combination? Picture: Dan Mullan/Getty Images

• Wallabies the walking, talking definition of insanity
• ‘Potentially blind’ All Black to make Cup history

Australia’s under fire selectors may be forced to make the one difficult choice they’ve managed to avoid for years unless the Wallabies can find a way to control the breakdown at the World Cup.

That’s the one area the Wallabies have had an advantage over their rivals in recent years, thanks to the combined skills of Michael Hooper and David Pocock, who have been picked in tandem rather one over the other.

It comes at a cost because it reduces Australia’s lineout options and with the “Pooper” combo struggling to control the breakdown in Japan, a re-think may be needed.

The numbers so far aren’t great.

Have we seen the end of the Pooper combination? Picture: Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Stream the Rugby World Cup 2019 on KAYO SPORTS. Every match Live & On-Demand on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Get your 14 day free trial >

While both men have got through a mountain of work in Australia’s opening two matches, their efforts haven’t been rewarded at the breakdown, with Pocock winning just two turnovers and Hooper only one.

“It seems like refs are not really giving much penalties away at ruck time to the person pilfering. You’ve just got to leave it,” said hooker Tolu Latu, another crafty thief over the ball.

“Refs are not giving pay to people getting on the ball. You have to survive probably two cleanouts. And it’s a fair bit of time to be in there. It’s probably better to be in D line and getting your line sorted so that you can get up and make tackles.”

Pocock (R) and Hooper (L) at training. Picture: Dan Mullan/Getty

The Wallabies have made no secret of their frustration at the refereeing at the World Cup so Latu didn’t want to poke the bear again, quickly adding that he reckons Pocock will win a stack of turnovers in his next match.

“The refs make calls and we just go by that. Poey is really good at getting on the ball, I am sure he will come back this weekend and prove me wrong and probably get six turnovers."

With the selectors already criticised for ditching halves Nic White and Christian Lealiifano for Will Genia and Bernard Foley in a move that backfired, splitting the successful Pooper combination would be a huge call.

Michael Hooper and David Pocock’s jersey side-by-side in the Sapporo changerooms. Picture: Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Prop Scott Sio suggested the real challenge was to find a way to counter the way other teams are retaining possession at the ruck.

“Sometimes the ruck speed was so quick, you've got a second to make a judgement there,” he said.

“With the defensive breakdown and the attacking breakdown, all these teams are so good at not only maintaining ball but also slowing it down.

“We've got to just come up with different things depending on the personnel as well that we are playing against."

Originally published as Selectors face tough calls as Pooper combo fails to fire at ruck time