Wallaby great Matt Burke has urged Australia to use the twin terrors David Pocock and Michael Hooper in the Bledisloe Cup game in Sydney on Saturday.
Pocock and Hooper are world class openside flankers and two of the best forwards at Australia's disposal. But by playing the same position, they would not normally be expected to start a test together. Burke, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, said they had different skills and their x-factor was impossible to ignore.
"Their contributions in the first two tests have been game-changing," he said.
"You just know their performance will lift the team...(the Wallabies) have to include both on the pitch at the same time."
Burke said Pocock ruled at the breakdown whereas Hooper had expanded his role to terrific ball running. He said while traditionalists would say their dual selection would involve a dangerous downsizing of the pack, their "devastating" defence so far had destroyed that theory. Hooper could be a lineout jumping option.
