Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has sought better protection for Wallabies ace David Pocock, calling on Super Rugby’s referees to come down hard on illegal neck twisting.

Pocock’s famed ability to win turnovers earned him a battering from opposing teams last year as they attempted to remove him from breakdown ball, both legally and illegally.

The gun backrower spent much of the season playing through neck pain, while also missing the Rugby Championship clash against South Africa in Brisbane and year-ending Test against England at Twickenham.

Ahead of the new Super Rugby season and a World Cup year, McKellar reiterated his demands for referees and citing officials to punish those who broke a rule designed for player safety, intentionally or not.

“I’m all for the game being tough and physical and played on the edge, but any action that’s not within the laws of the game needs to be acted on,” said McKellar.

“It’s a tricky one for Pocock, because he’s so dominant as a poacher and he’s on every team’s tip-sheet each week. Him being cleaned out legally, compared to having his neck twisted is important.

“It’s about player safety, it’s not about just David, either. The same applies to Michael Hooper at the Waratahs or Liam Wright at the Reds.

“You don’t want to see that action, because mums and dads are watching our game and we want their kids to aspire to play rugby, and those actions scare the mums off.

“I’m not saying these things are deliberate, more often that not they’re accidents but they need to be acted on.”

McKellar also expressed his disappointment at Stephen Larkham’s axing from the Wallabies set up.

McKellar worked under Larkham at the Brumbies for four years before replacing him as head coach last year.

“Steve’s a good mate of mine, he gave me a great opportunity at the Brumbies,” he said. “We had a tremendous couple of years working together, our wives are close, and I really feel for him at the moment.

“I’ve not had any conversations about what his new role will be.

“Stephen doesn’t need me to tell him he’s always welcome at our club, he’s a club legend and he’ll always have a role at the Brumbies if he wants. Our door is always open to him.”