David Pocock wants bragging rights against Richie McCaw in championship clash
After knee injuries wiped out two seasons for Wallaby, openside flaker earns praise from coach Michael Cheika
Australia flanker David Pocock is relishing the prospect of facing All Blacks captain Richie McCaw again after two seasons wiped out by knee injuries.
Pocock started at openside flanker in Australia's 34-9 win against Argentina on Saturday, his first match in the number seven shirt in over two-and-a-half years, and his performance earned high praise from Wallabies coach Michael Cheika.
Australia will clash with world champions the All Blacks in the abridged Rugby Championship title-decider in two weeks, a match likely to be McCaw's swansong on Australian soil.
Before undergoing two knee reconstructions that forced him to miss the 2013 and 2014 seasons, Pocock's match-ups with McCaw were billed as unofficial battles for the title of the world's best openside flanker.
It’s always a big occasion playing the All Blacks and he’s been right up there ... He’s a player I really respect and I relish those moments
Pocock may have a chance to re-stake his claim in the August 8 match in Sydney against 34-year-old McCaw, who is expected to bow out of rugby after the All Blacks' World Cup defence.
