Pocock laughs off ‘cheat’ allegations

MATCH-WINNING Australia flanker David Pocock has laughed off suggestions he is a cheat in the wake of his dominant World Cup performance against South Africa.

The 23-year-old was the key figure in Australia’s unlikely 11-9 quarter-final victory over the Springboks, affecting several crucial turnovers.

Coach Robbie Deans and other respected experts lauded Pocock’s performance as the most dominant individual effort of the tournament. But not everyone was happy with the number seven’s methods.

Springboks captain John Smit openly questioned the legality of Pocock’s breakdown tactics, while South Africa fans unloaded on the superstar fetcher on social media sites.

“It’s been pretty funny checking the Twitter timeline for the South African fans. It’s been in good humour,” an unfazed Pocock told reporters.

“I think it’s fairly standard (being called a cheat) for most number sevens.”

The Wallabies will need all of Pocock’s pilfering prowess to upset the All Blacks in Sunday’s World Cup semi-final at Eden Park. Pocock declared the battle of the breakdown will ultimately decide the match and admits the All Blacks are a more difficult proposition than the Springboks.

“The All Blacks probably have a different set of threats,” he said.

“They use a bit more footwork and you’d probably have to say their work at the breakdown across the board is probably a bit better (than South Africa).

“So we’re going to have to step up from last week at the breakdown.

“It’s fairly standard in games these days for openside flankers to cop a bit of heat from the opposition and they’ve got Richie McCaw too, so it’s going to be a really important part of the game and both teams know that.”

The Wallabies remain optimistic full-back Kurtley Beale will overcome a hamstring strain in time to face the All Blacks.

Meanwhile Martin Johnson’s future as England manager was thrown into doubt yesterday as the RFU began to deal with the fallout from their ill-fated World Cup campaign.

Fran Cotton, the former RFU vice-chairman, has agreed to lead an external review into the whole England set-up, which will shine the spotlight on both Johnson and his immediate boss, Rob Andrew.

Johnson, whose contract expires at the end of December, has been given until Monday week to indicate whether he wants to be considered for reappointment.

The RFU have also launched an investigation into all allegations of player misconduct during the World Cup campaign. England’s disciplinary issues ranged from a drunken night out in Queenstown to Manu Tuilagi jumping from a ferry into Auckland harbour, for which he was fined £3,000 (€3,400) by the RFU.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has made three changes for the game against Australia.

Aaron Cruden, who was called into the All Blacks’ squad as replacement for the injured Dan Carter last month, will start at fly-half.

The two other switches are also behind the scrum, where full-back Israel Dagg returns after missing New Zealand’s quarter-final victory over Argentina, and fit-again Richard Kahui replaces Sonny Bill Williams, who is on bench duty.

New Zealand: I Dagg; C Jane, C Smith, M Nonu, R Kahui; A Cruden, P Weepu; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, O Franks, S Whitelock, B Thorn, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), K Read.

Replacements: A Hore, B Franks, A Williams, V Vito, A Ellis, S Donald, S B Williams.