Pocock lifts Wallabies' spirits

Australia fans finally received some good news on Monday, with flanker David Pocock declaring himself ready to return to action this week.

The Wallabies have been counting the cost of their win over USA on Friday, with several players suffering injuries that could threaten their participation in the rest of Rugby World Cup 2011.

But as his teammates enjoyed the restorative powers of the thermal springs in the north Canterbury town of Hanmer Springs, 23-year-old Pocock said: “I am available for full training and selection this week, which is pretty exciting.

“I did a running session yesterday morning and it was great to be doing a bit of fitness and moving freer. I was getting cold though - my hands were freezing."

Pocock suffered a recurrence of a back injury a day before Australia's defeat by Ireland on September 17.

“My lower back went very tight and started spasming and they just couldn’t get it to release, so on the Friday I saw the physio seven or eight times," he said.

"I woke up on Saturday morning and it was still no good so the decision was made for me.
Specialist seven

“I had copped a knock against New Zealand in Brisbane (the Tri Nations match on 27 August) and I had been managing it since then but it just flared up overnight.

“The hot springs here have been good for it.”

The defeat by Ireland consigned Australia to a likely quarter-final against South Africa.
It also brought into focus the Wallabies' decision to include only one specialist openside flanker in their 30-man squad, with number 8 Ben McCalman having to deputise for Pocock against Ireland and USA.

“There’s been a fair bit of talk about not having a back-up number seven but I think Ben did pretty good. If you look at his stats (in the Ireland game) he wasn’t bad - the fact that Sean O’Brien (IRE) had such a good game got everyone talking about our lack of a specialist seven.

“But that’s the way the coaches wanted to go and Ben has gone very well in the two games so far.”

Pocock said he was keen to make up for lost time when the Wallabies take on Russia in their final Pool C match on Saturday.

Flight home

“From now on if we lose a game we are on the next flight home pretty much, so that’s the reality. We don’t want to be home before the end of the tournament so there’s that pressure."

Number 8 Wycliff Palu, second row Dan Vickerman and full back Kurtley Beale travelled to Christchurch for scans on their injuries on Monday. Centre Robert Horne, who fractured his cheekbone against USA, had a scan on Sunday.

Australia team officials are expected to make an announcement on Monday evening about whether any squad replacements will be needed.

Scrum half Luke Burgess said any bad news would be shared by the whole team.

”It’s tough. You really become a family, getting away with guys and spending time with them so much," he said.

"You do all the training and preparation for the tournament and to have it potentially cut short by injury is really disappointing.

“Then the others must really show that they appreciate the injured players' effort and make them feel they are part of it because they will be devastated.”