Brumbies not prepared to risk David Pocock against Crusaders

The Brumbies are not risking David Pocock against the Crusaders.

David Pocock is back on the Brumbies injury list. Picture: AAP

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar will not risk David Pocock, who was forced off last week with a calf strain against the Jaguares, against the Crusaders tomorrow.

“Medically, the advice was to give him a week off leading into the bye, and have him ready to go for the Rebels game,” McKellar said. And he hasn’t dwelled on the fact that should his side lose, it will be the 36th loss in row by an Australian side to NZ in Super Rugby.

“I don’t need to talk about it. I think everyone else talks about it.

In his mind, the Crusaders are the toughest team in Super Rugby and it matters little to him that they have lost a string of players – Ben Funnell, Oli Jager and possibly Tom Sanders – possibly for the season. They are the Crusaders. The Christchurch production line has never failed yet to produce adequate replacements.

“You’ve got to go out there and challenge them and put them under pressure,” he said. “That’s the mindset you’ve got to have, that you’re going out there to pressure the opposition.”

Certainly the selection of Andrew Smith at inside centre and Ben Alexander, a 148-Super Rugby game prop on the bench, signals McKellar’s no-nonsense approach, as does the selection of Wallabies lock Blake Enever at blindside flanker.