8 Mar 2011

Pocock injury not as bad as first thought

5:51 am on 8 March 2011

The Wallabies flanker David Pocock has been cleared of a serious knee injury but will still spend four to six weeks on the Super Rugby sidelines with a medial ligament strain.

Pocock limped off the field early in the Western Force's 39-12 loss to the Sharks at the weekend and was put in a leg brace after the match as a precaution.

But fears that Pocock could be out for a much longer stint were allayed yesterday when scans cleared the 22-year-old of any serious structural damage to his right knee.

The news would come as a relief to Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, who is counting on a fit and firing Pocock to help lead Australia to success at this year's World Cup.

The Force will monitor Willie Ripia this week in the hope that the New Zealand five-eighth can return from a niggling foot injury in time for Saturday night's clash with the Blues in Perth.