McCaw is the benchmark - Pocock
Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:55
Will he be up for the McCaw challenge? Wallabies flank David Pocock. (c) Gallo
Wallabies flank David Pocock has hailed Richie McCaw as the benchmark for all openside flanks to measure themselves against, and is looking forward to challenging the All Blacks skipper at the breakdown.
Pocock was quick to rubbish complaints from critics, who regularly argue that McCaw receives special treatment from referees.
The 22-year-old believes that McCaw simply plays to the edge of the law and is brilliant at reading the referee and understanding what he can get away with.
"Richie has been up there for a long time and he's very smart and very good about the way he goes about his game and plays to the limit, which is what a Test No.7 should be doing," Pocock told AAP.
"Like every good openside he has a high work-rate, he's smart and he's good at reading the play and pops up at the right time.
"I guess the key is the way he reads refs," added the Force star.
"A lot of people think he gets away with stuff, but I think it's just the way that he plays right to the edge and good on him.
"I really enjoy playing against him. It's a great challenge and it's something that I look forward to."
The Zimbabwean-born Pocock was at his best and was a constant thorn in the side of the Springboks during Australia's historic 41-39 Tri-Nations victory in Bloemfontein last weekend.
"Going in to the Bloemfontein Test, I had more of a focus on picking and choosing when to go in to rucks," Pocock said.
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