Michael Cheika won’t confirm Michael Hooper and David Pocock will be reunited for Australia’s Rugby World Cup opener, but admits their combination brings a quality that goes beyond a traditional Test back row.
Captain Hooper and fit-again flanker Pocock look set to reprise their successful 2015 partnership when the Wallabies face Fiji in Sapporo on Saturday.
Multiple media reports declared the pair will partner rookie No.8 Isi Naisarani, resulting in the demotion to the bench of powerhouse blindside flanker Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who has played 80 minutes in all five Australian Tests this year.
Pocock was captain and performed strongly in the most recent Test against Samoa, proving he had overcome the calf injury that had sidelined him for six months.
Reports that he will be handed the No.6 jersey were downplayed by coach Cheika at a ceremony welcoming the Wallabies to Sapporo on Wednesday night.
“We’ll see tomorrow when we announce the team if they’re playing together or not,” Cheika told journalists.
“If they do play together, then it looks different to if we play a more traditional back row.
“We’re probably more of a threat on the ground. If we play another style of back row, we’re probably more a threat on ball carrying or something like that.
“You’ve seen it before, you’ve seen how they can play together so you can imagine it yourself, I’d imagine.”
The Wallabies were feted at an hour-long ceremony at the Ebetsu City Ceramic Art Centre on the outskirts of Sapporo, having completed eight days of preparation at Odawara, near Tokyo.
Cheika was reluctant to discuss his team naming but did concede he had adopted a horses for courses mentality for the tournament, meaning changes could be made to suit various opponents.
“We’ll pick a team we think is well ready and prepared,” he said.
“Some elements may be particular to Fiji but really, I think we’re looking at the whole flow of what we’ve had so far and which players will be 100 per cent ready for the game on Saturday.”