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THE grooming of David Pocock as the next Wallabies captain is a secret no longer with the likelihood he will be blooded as an on-field leader in the pool stages of the World Cup.
Australia's top players face seven taxing Tests in six weeks on New Zealand's heavier grounds if they go all the way to the Cup final on October 23.
This means it will be vital to utilise the depth of the 30-man squad to keep the aura of performance high.
Flanker Rocky Elsom and his follow-me style of authority on the field is the right captaincy package for the Cup campaign but history tells us that even skippers need a rest.
Which is where Pocock comes in.
Standout servants Rod McCall (1995), Jason Little (1999) and Chris Whitaker (2003) were all given the honour of captaining the Wallabies against a minnow nation during previous World Cups in just that formula.
Either the clashes against the US in Wellington (September 23) or Russia in Nelson (October 1) loom as a captaincy chance for Pocock, who led Western Force in their last game of the Super Rugby season.
That Pocock is Test captain-in-waiting was given a strong push against South Africa in Sydney last weekend when Elsom was rested for the final 25 minutes after a display that had all the punchy running, lineout acumen and physical force Australian need at the Cup.
Ironman Elsom did not miss a minute of Australia's 15 Tests last season.
Last Saturday, the signpost to the future was subtle but it was there when Pocock took the reins in his absence for coach Robbie Deans .
It was only a captaincy cameo of 11 minutes before the world-class flanker was himself replaced.
But Pocock was given the nod ahead of halfback Will Genia, hooker Stephen Moore and stalwart Nathan Sharpe, a former captain, who did take over when Pocock left the field.
Queensland's James Horwill, who led the Reds to the Super Rugby title, left the field at the same time as Elsom.
Pocock, 23, has become an indispensable figure for Deans and not just because he allows the Wallabies to compete on level footing with All Blacks nemesis Richie McCaw in Auckland on August 6 in the almost-mystic arts of the breakdown.
He is part of the Wallabies leadership team and is a standard-setter in both attitude and training ethic.
Most importantly, he is a fixture and Deans has that quirky bent of liking back-rowers as his captains.
Look at Reuben Thorne and McCaw at the Crusaders and now Elsom, who will be sharper again for match fitness against the All Blacks in Auckland.
Elsom is no certainty to be staying on in Australian rugby after the World Cup, with European prospects in the melting pot.
A special case entree to play for University in Brisbane Premier Rugby at St Lucia on Saturday is being organised for Canberra-based Wallaby Matt Giteau to keep him match sharp in the run-up to selection of the World Cup squad.
It is a smart and flexible call, which paints how keen Giteau is to stay ready for any call-up in the Tri-Nations.
He will face Brothers with Wallaby training squad members Rod Davies, Luke Morahan and James Hanson as teammates.
Giteau was bumped even from the reserves for last weekend's Test against South Africa when heavy-hitting Anthony Faingaa filled the back-up centre spot on the bench.
"Everything is very competitive in the training squad. Backline positions are up for grabs," Faingaa said.
"That's why we talk of winning those mini battles at training.
"There is a nice balance of backs with different attributes. Controlling the defensive line, tackling hard - hopefully I bring that to the mix."
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