biffon
10-22-2010, 12:12 AM
Eales Medal seals Pocock's rise to leader of the pack in breakaway year
Greg Growden
DAVID POCOCK'S success in filling the void left by the departure of the Wallabies' greatest open-side breakaway George Smith was confirmed last night when he won the John Eales Medal.
Pocock's phenomenal season was rewarded when he became the third open-side breakaway to win the award, since it began in 2002 to acknowledge Australia's best player. The Western Force breakaway joins Smith (twice) and Waratahs captain Phil Waugh on the list of winners, which also includes Chris Latham, Nathan Sharpe and Matt Giteau.
Confirmation that Pocock was far and away Australia's most consistent performer over the past year came in the final count, after the players had voted on a 3-2-1 points basis following each of the 15 Tests - going back to last year's northern hemisphere tour.
http://images.brisbanetimes.com.au/2010/10/21/2001135/22571730-600x400.jpg (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/photogallery/rugby-union/union-news/the-2010-john-eales-medal-at-carriageworks-sydney/20101021-16w5h.html?selectedImage=0) 2010 John Eales Medal
Quade Cooper and Stephanie Rice. Photo: Wolter Peeters
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Pocock finished with 269 votes, well ahead of Giteau (193), Quade Cooper (146), Rocky Elsom (138) and Kurtley Beale (138). The 25-Test representative sealed his victory during the Tri Nations series, as at the end of June, he held only a three-point lead over Giteau.
When the 22-year-old Pocock first made the Wallabies Test line-up at the end of 2008, he was a reliable back-row back-up to Smith. However he soon began to threaten Smith's position, forcing the long-time Test representative to be moved to No.8. And since Smith decided this year to give away Test rugby to play in France, Pocock has risen to another level; to the effect that numerous opposition teams, including the All Blacks, regard him as one of the Wallabies' prime weapons.
Pocock is clearly a crowd favourite, too, winning the public poll as Australia's Choice Wallaby of the Year.
Greg Growden
DAVID POCOCK'S success in filling the void left by the departure of the Wallabies' greatest open-side breakaway George Smith was confirmed last night when he won the John Eales Medal.
Pocock's phenomenal season was rewarded when he became the third open-side breakaway to win the award, since it began in 2002 to acknowledge Australia's best player. The Western Force breakaway joins Smith (twice) and Waratahs captain Phil Waugh on the list of winners, which also includes Chris Latham, Nathan Sharpe and Matt Giteau.
Confirmation that Pocock was far and away Australia's most consistent performer over the past year came in the final count, after the players had voted on a 3-2-1 points basis following each of the 15 Tests - going back to last year's northern hemisphere tour.
http://images.brisbanetimes.com.au/2010/10/21/2001135/22571730-600x400.jpg (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/photogallery/rugby-union/union-news/the-2010-john-eales-medal-at-carriageworks-sydney/20101021-16w5h.html?selectedImage=0) 2010 John Eales Medal
Quade Cooper and Stephanie Rice. Photo: Wolter Peeters
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Pocock finished with 269 votes, well ahead of Giteau (193), Quade Cooper (146), Rocky Elsom (138) and Kurtley Beale (138). The 25-Test representative sealed his victory during the Tri Nations series, as at the end of June, he held only a three-point lead over Giteau.
When the 22-year-old Pocock first made the Wallabies Test line-up at the end of 2008, he was a reliable back-row back-up to Smith. However he soon began to threaten Smith's position, forcing the long-time Test representative to be moved to No.8. And since Smith decided this year to give away Test rugby to play in France, Pocock has risen to another level; to the effect that numerous opposition teams, including the All Blacks, regard him as one of the Wallabies' prime weapons.
Pocock is clearly a crowd favourite, too, winning the public poll as Australia's Choice Wallaby of the Year.