\"No time for moping\" as Wallabies try to avoid wooden spoon: Pocock

Sun, Sep 30, 2018, 8:00 AM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
The Wallabies travel to Port Elizabeth to face the Springboks, who are on a high after defeating the All Blacks away in Wellington.

David Pocock has declared there is "no time for moping" in the wake of another Wallabies loss with The Rugby Championship wooden spoon on the line this weekend.

The Wallabies were licking their wounds on Sunday morning after a particularly physical encounter with the Springboks finished in a 23-12 defeat.

They caught an early flight out of Port Elizabeth and set sail for Buenos Aires, where they will spend the next week training before arriving in Salta on Thursday.

That's where an Argentinian outfit bursting with confidence awaits.

Should Australia drop that match they will have finished last on The Rugby Championship ladder for the first time since their opponents this weekend joined the competition in 2012.

While he stopped short of declaring the match a must win Pocock was quick to change gears in the wake of the loss to the Springboks.

"All the wins are important and that's our focus now," Pocock said.

"There is no time for moping.


"You have to cop it on the chin and review starts tomorrow on the flight."

There will be no lack of motivation for the Australians this weekend.

Avoiding the embarrassment of a wooden spoon is one element of that motivation but the other comes from the disastrous loss to the Pumas on the Gold Coast.

It was the Wallabies' worst performance for quite some time but Pocock doesn't believe it will be a decisive factor in their preparation.

"You don't need anything to motivate you," he said.

"You're playing for the Wallabies and that's incredibly... it's a huge privilege.

"Every time you pull on that jumper you are representing your country and all the people who helped get you there."

On top of the Wallabies' "work ons" list will be their attack in the opposition red zone.

The Australians had 79 percent territory and 68 percent possession in a second half which produced no points in Port Elizabeth.


While the Boks defence is top notch those figures are alarming and continue a trend of low scoring performances.

Through eight matches this season the Wallabies are averaging just under 17 points per game.

Last year they averaged just over 31 points per game.

"We just couldn't capitalise on the pressure we had down their end," Pocock said.

"We will keep working on that.

"I thought some of the phase play was good and we were getting them under pressure.

"We just weren't taking our opportunities."

The Wallabies must simply take those opportunities this time next week.

While they improved in Port Elizabeth teams are judged on wins and losses and Pocock didn't shy away from that reality.

"That's what you get judged on," he said.

"You are putting in a huge amount of work during the week and then in the 80 minutes trying to play your very best.

"When it doesn't quite come off or there are errors that let guys down it's disappointing."

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