Bledisloe Cup 2018: Are the All Blacks using illegal tactics to dangerously target David Pocock's neck?

Angus Reid

Bledisloe Cup 2018: Are the All Blacks using illegal tactics to dangerously target David Pocock's neck? image

David Pocock is cut from a different cloth than most other people, and on Saturday night he showed it.

The Wallabies travelled to Eden Park, a ground where they hadn't won for 32 years, with the Bledisloe Cup on the line.

Australia took a lead into halftime of Bledisloe I before the All Blacks turned it on and walked away 38-13 victors.

With Australia losing star fullback Israel Folau for the match, they needed their other senior players to step up.

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Pocock physically couldn't have done any more.

The flanker was absolutely everywhere and in everything, but it soon became clear that New Zealand had made a concerted effort to target the 30-year-old, and some fans began to notice the attention being paid to Pocock, especially his neck.

Watch the vision in the video player below.

"He's complained a couple of times, there are clear neck roles," Former Wallabies player Stephen Hoiles said on Fox Sports' coverage.

"It was even looked at from the TMO, Pocock's gone down on at least three occasions, he's had a bad neck for a long time.

"He's a guy that is so strong over the ball that the only way to get him off the ball sometimes is to move his neck, which is now illegal.

"It's not safe to touch a player's neck, so it will get looked at during the week.

"I've got no problem with it being an even contest, 15 v 15, but you want to see that followed up next week."

Fans were sure there was some 'special' attention being shown to the Wallabies star forward.





 

 

Angus Reid

Angus Reid Photo