Eddie Jones not buying Pocock injury, scoffs at Wallabies' 'merry-go-round' tactics

Eddie Jones felt a sense of deja vu when he heard David Pocock was a doubt to face England and expects the flanker to play at Twickenham on Saturday.

Pocock was replaced in the second half of Australia’s victory over Italy last Saturday with a neck injury.

The 30-year-old was a notable absentee when the Wallabies trained on Monday and scrum-half Will Genia said he was “not sure” if Pocock will take on England as he is “pretty busted”.

Jones expressed his doubts when Pocock was ruled out of the second Test during England’s Test series in Australia two years ago, despite the breakdown specialist suffering a fractured eye socket.

And the England head coach was skeptical when asked Pocock’s participation in the Cook Cup showdown.

“We’re not even thinking about it,” the former Australia coach said.

“I hear this every time we play Australia, Pocock’s not going to be fit, he’ll be fit. When I heard it, I thought, ‘here we go again’.

“You know those merry-go-rounds at the Royal Easter Show. It’s a bit like that.”

England has won the last five straight encounters over the Wallabies since Eddie Jones became head coach, and they will be looking to become the first team in the rivalry to notch six wins in a row over their 109-year history.

The Wallabies first loss to Wales in 10-years two weeks ago was another unwanted record under Cheika, adding to the first home series loss to Ireland, first home-and-away losses to Scotland in a calendar year, and first Australian team to slip as low as seventh in the World Rankings.

For Michael Cheika and the Wallabies, the end of their 2018 international year couldn’t come soon enough, with a horror run slightly buoyed by a 26-7 win over Italy on the weekend.

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