Twenty Questions with David "Bam Bam" Pocock
There is much to learn to about Zimbabwean born David Pocock, who became Wallaby No. 829 when he made his Test debut against New Zealand in Hong Kong at the start of the Wallabies 2008 Spring Tour.
At 20 years of age, moving to Australia only four years ago, he has achieved an enormous amount in just three years of his professional Rugby career. He had his first taste of Rugby at a small primary school in Midlands, Zimbabwe and has gone on to represent the Wallabies and the Western Force. He is the next generation of our openside flanker.
Starting his representative Rugby in 2005, playing for the Australian Schools Squad, in 2006 he made his debut with the Force in the Investec Super 14, but only in the final round against the Sharks as there was controversy over his age.
Although originally selected when he was 17 he was banned from playing senior professional Rugby until he turned 18 as international restrictions prohibited “boys from playing against men”. There was no such issue with him playing in the Australian Under 19s squad the same year.
Finally coming of age in 2007 he was a regular squad member of the Western Force.
Pocock’s skills and enthusiasm have led him to be ready to back up George Smith and Phil Waugh at a national level and in 2007 he was selected in the Wallabies train on squad and ended up representing the Australian A’s against Tonga, Japan and Fiji.
In 2008, after making an outstanding impression with the Force when they won twice in South Africa and New Zealand, he achieved the role of captaincy for the Ford Australian Under 20s for the IRB Juniour World Cup and then took a dominant leadership role with the Western Force on their tour to the United Kingdom.
This is just the start for David Pocock, who has won 25 caps already for the Force and made his Test debut in the Hong Kong Bledisloe. With his professional work ethic, Rugby intelligence and physicality it should be just the start of a luminous Rugby career.
1. Nickname:
Bam Bam or just Bam (after Ernie Rubble’s son in “The Flinstones”)
2. Primary Schools/High Schools/Universities attended:
Midlands Christian School, Zimbabwe
Port Alfred High School, South Africa
Anglican Church Grammar School Brisbane, Brisbane
3. First Rugby team I played in:
Midlands Christian School Under 10’s
4. My all time favourite Classic Wallaby:
Stephen Larkham
5. My most respected Rugby opponent:
My training partner Richard Brown
6. My Favourite non-Rugby sporting star:
Michael Jordan
7. My best Rugby memory:
Playing for the Force and beating the Bulls at Loftus with my grandfather watching from the stands.
8. My most embarrassing/worse Rugby moment:
Missing two pretty easy conversions in Under 15’s – we went on to draw the game
9. My favourite food is:
Sushi.
10. Away from Rugby things I enjoy doing:
Spending time with friends and family
11. The team mate I would least like to room with is:
Props.
12. Why?
They usually snore.
13. My favourite holiday destination is:
Grandfather’s farm, Zimbabwe
14. My favourite book/movie/music:
Book: The Irresistible Revolution – Shane Claiborn
Movie: Disney’s Robin Hood
Music: Mann Friday, Chad Blondel, Switchfoot
15. If I wasn’t a Professional Rugby Player I would be:
Studying at Uni.
16. The special talent most people don’t know I have:
I won a cake-baking comp once!
17. What being a Wallaby means to me:
Being in the squad is a massive honour and makes you want to go on and succeed wearing the Wallaby jumper.
18. Favourite Stadium to play in:
Newlands, Cape Town or Kings Park, Durban
19. Best country toured:
Ireland/South Africa
20. The thing I most can’t do without is:
Oxygen. Love is really important too I guess
Read More...
