Australia vs England: David Pocock ruled out of series with fractured eye socket

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Chris Jones13 June 2016

Australia, who boasted the best back row at the World Cup, have suffered a major blow with David Pocock lost for the rest of the three-match Test series.

Pocock fractured an eye socket in the 39-28 defeat by England in Brisbane and he will be out for up to six weeks. The injury robs the Wallabies of one of their most important ball stealers and puts added pressure on two try Michael Hooper and Scott Fardy who complete the World Cup back row.

Eddie Jones, the England head coach, saw veteran flanker James Haskell deliver a man-of-the-match performance and the rest of the pack dominate in key areas leaving the Wallabies shaken.

As Australia regroup to try and stop England recording a first ever series triumph in Australia by winning the second Test in Melbourne on Saturday, Fardy admitted: “In that first half they took a couple of key turnovers when we were down in attack.

“Obviously Haskell did a great job and had a good game. We’ve just got to make sure it’s a whole 15-man thing. That we’re strong in our cleanouts and to the ball quickly because England got over the ball very well. I thought it was a pretty run-of-the-mill performance from the Australian back row, but I think we could be better.”

“We need to make sure with their 50-50s, if they’re not on we’re pulling out and not making bad decisions. I was guilty of a few of those when I thought I was doing the right thing but it turns out I wasn’t.”

Meanwhile, George North has been ruled out of Wales’ tour of New Zealand after suffering a hamstring injury in the First Test in Auckland, a 39-21 loss to the All Blacks.

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