Australia flanker David Pocock is a doubt for the crunch World Cup pool game with Ireland after he missed training on Friday.
Flanker sidelined with back strain
Australia flanker David Pocock is a doubt for the crunch World Cup pool game with Ireland after he missed training on Friday.
Pocock, one of the world's best opensides, sat out the Captain's Run at Eden Park after suffering a back strain.
And Pocock now faces an anxious wait to see if the injury settles down in time for him to tackle the Irish.
"At this stage it was just a precautionary measure and we'll see how he pulls up in the morning with tightness in his back," a team spokesman said.
"We're not sure at this stage whether he will be okay, but we'll see how he is in the morning."
Tight
Ben McCalman is likely to come into the side if Pocock is ruled out - although Australia captain James Horwill remains confident that he will be passed fit.
"He's just a little tight and we just want to be pretty careful with him," Horwill said.
"He didn't want to push it, but I believe he will be okay after speaking to him.
"Pocock will play if he's right and he'll make that call along with the doctor and the medical staff.
"If he's right he will give it his all and he's sort of guy that if he feels he can't get out there and play then obviously he won't play."
