Super Rugby season 2015: David Pocock set to miss a month due to ankle sprain

DAVID Pocock’s storming return to top rugby has been put on hold just as swiftly with a high-ankle sprain that may sideline him for a month.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 13: David Pocock of the Brumbies is tackled during the round one Super Rugby match between the Brumbies and the Reds at GIO Stadium on February 13, 2015 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images)

DAVID Pocock’s storming return to top rugby has been put on hold just as swiftly with a high-ankle sprain that may sideline him for a month.

The former Wallaby flanker was in no obvious distress after his 11-run, high-impact display as man-of-the-match to dominate the Queensland Reds last Friday night in Canberra.

Cooling down produced a different verdict with ACT Brumbies medicos assessing a grade-one syndesmosis which prevented him training yesterday.

The Brumbies have said only that he will miss Friday night’s feature clash against the Chiefs in New Plymouth but such injuries regularly stretch to a month out.

David Pocock charges into Karmichael Hunt in the Super Rugby opening round last Friday.

“Obviously it’s a disappointing outcome and not what I wanted, having spent a long time out (with knee reconstructions in 2013 and 2014),” Pocock said.

“But it’s treatable and I know I’m in good hands with the Brumbies medical team.”

It changes the whole dynamic of the Brumbies pack being without the muscular forward who so often stalls the momentum of opposition teams at the breakdown and is integral to their mauling drives.

“It’s a long season, this is contact sport and these sorts of injuries are quite common,” Brumbies coach Steve Larkham said.

“It’s in no way related to his knee and we are going to approach it week by week to see when he’s OK to play again.

“Dave has been positive about this setback and while he’d rather be on the flight to New Zealand with the team than rehabbing in a moon boot, we are optimistic he’ll be back soon.”

Just how crazy were the upsets in the first week of the Super Rugby season was highlighted yesterday by TattsBet’s Brad Tamer.

A $1 multi bet covering the six winners would have netted a cool $2952.70 by linking the Brumbies ($1.30), Rebels ($5.75), Hurricanes ($1.80), Force ($6), Chiefs ($1.90), Stormers ($3.50) and Cheetahs ($5.50).

* Queensland University were shaded 21-20 by Sydney premiers Eastwood in last weekend’s Australian Club Championship in Sydney.

Originally published as Super Rugby season 2015: David Pocock set to miss a month due to ankle sprain