When and where to play David Pocock is Australia’s biggest World Cup worry

Arguably Australia’s best player, David Pocock is also the biggest headache for Wallabies selectors heading in to the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — AUGUST 08: David Pocock of the Wallabies looks on with a cut left eye during The Rugby Championship match between the Australia Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at ANZ Stadium on August 8, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

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Having finally settled on their 31-man squad for the World Cup, the Wallabies’ selectors still face their toughest decision yet: what to do about David Pocock.

An automatic choice when he’s fully fit, the niggling calf injury that has sidelined him for six months presents a major dilemma about when and where to pick him.

The temptation to rush him straight back into the side for Australia’s opening World Cup match with Fiji is fraught with danger.

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Where and when to deploy David Pocock is the biggest headache facing Wallabies selectors. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Pockett

Not only will he face a brutal physical challenge from the Pacific Islanders where the risk of reinjuring himself is a genuine concern, but his inclusion will force a reshuffle that could unbalance a backrow that is starting to fire.

Michael Hooper has been Australia’s most consistent high performer this season and as captain, it’s unthinkable that he would make way for Pocock in his preferred position at open side flanker.

Playing Pocock at blindside doesn’t work because it reduces the effectiveness of the lineout so if he starts, it has to be at No. 8, which means either Isi Naisarani misses out or he moves to the side at the expense of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, both of whom have been in great form.

But leaving Pocock out could be an even riskier gamble than bringing him in cold, as last week’s sobering 36-0 loss to the All Blacks proved.

Killed at the breakdown, the Wallabies need to have the best pilferer in the game on the field if they want to have any chance of not only beating New Zealand, but also their Pool D opponents Wales in a match that will determine Australia’s route through the playoffs, where they could face England, Argentina or France in the quarter-finals.

Australia's Kurtley Beale (L) and David Pocock (R) attend the captain's run training session with teammates in Auckland on August 16, 2019, ahead of a Bledisloe Cup game against the New Zealand's All Blacks. Picture: Greg Bowker/AFP

Pocock has shown time and time before he can come in undercooked and play like he’s never missed a beat, claiming the John Eales Medal a year ago after returning from a sabbatical.

World Cups are a different beast though, and he’s a marked man, though the crackdown on neck rolls and any tackles above the shoulders should provide some extra protection.

The Pocock problem remains the biggest dilemma for the selectors.

The compromise could be to play him off the bench, at least initially as he tries to regain match fitness, but to win the World Cup, the Wallabies know they will have to roll the dice with him at some stage and hope the right numbers come up.