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BY: BRET HARRIS From: The Australian November 12, 2011 12:00AM
WALLABIES openside flanker David Pocock will be the hottest player on the Australian market when his contract with Western Force expires next year, but it remains to be seen whether he will follow his good mate James O'Connor out of Perth.
Pocock, arguably the best number seven in the world, has been with the Force since making his Super Rugby debut as a teenager against the Sharks in 2006, the WA team's foundation year.
But the Force has failed to make the playoffs in those six years, which would be a source of frustration to a player as competitive as Pocock.
On top of this, O'Connor has gone to the Melbourne Rebels.
"James is a hugely talented player but it happened and we have moved on," Pocock said.
"How we go without him, we'll have to wait and see. I got along well with James."
Asked whether O'Connor's departure would influence his decision to stay or go, Pocock said: "I haven't thought about it too much. I'll wait and see what happens."
Pocock and O'Connor will be catching up on Tuesday when the Wallabies assemble in Sydney for their tour of Britain, which includes games against the Barbarians and Wales.
Pocock said he was still feeling the disappointment of the Wallabies' loss to the All Blacks in their World Cup semi-final. "We missed a good opportunity, but it's over now," he said.
"We have to make sure it makes us hungrier, not just for the next World Cup but leading up to it.
"We'll get that opportunity in the next couple of weeks."
Pocock warned that Wales would be seeking revenge at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on December 3 for the 21-18 loss to Australia in the World Cup bronze-medal game.
"It's going to be a hell of a game," he said.
Rugby fans will be salivating at the prospect of watching Pocock go head to head with young Welsh captain Sam Warburton, who missed the bronze-medal game because of suspension.
"I'm looking forward to it," Pocock said.
"I don't get too caught up in one-on-one battles. He's pretty solid."
Meanwhile, Pocock is about to become a published author with his soon-to-be released autobiography, Openside: My Journey to the World Cup.
"I was approached to do a book. Initially, I wasn't excited about the idea, but I enjoyed it," Pocock said.
"I've tried to be honest. There's a lot of off-field stuff, growing up in Zimbabwe."
Typical of Pocock, who is as great a humanitarian as he is a rugby player, the proceeds of the book will be donated to charity.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1226193136965