Wallabies star David Pocock had reason to reflect this week, ahead of Australia's pivotal second week in Japan.
It's not because this is his final Rugby World Cup, or his last tournament with the Wallabies after announcing his international retirement three weeks ago, but because this week marks a life-changing anniversary for the 31-year-old.
This week marked the 17th anniversary of Pocock’s family moving to Australia from Zimbabwe, and the beginning of his journey to becoming a Wallaby.
Pocock, his parents and two younger brothers moved to Brisbane in 2002 and the boys went to Anglican Church Grammar School, and David has often spoken about the important role rugby played once they arrived in Australia..
It was at Churchie where his then-school coach Tom Barker suggested he move out of the backline, where he played mainly centre, and into the back row, and rugby was where Pocock found security in his new home.
“I am so grateful for the opportunities that it (rugby) has given me,” he said.
“I think it was 17 years to the day yesterday that my family arrived in Australia. So, to be at a World Cup with the Wallabies reflecting on that is pretty special.”
As he competes in what will be his final tournament for the Wallabies before retiring from international rugby, Pocock said it was that journey which was really crystalised this week.
“I guess you look back and you reflect on how lucky we were to have the opportunity to move to Australia,” he said.
“I look at my two younger brothers and we often talk about and think about the sacrifices your parents make.
“We are into our own things and are all doing well but it’s your parents who arrive with no super, no cash in the bank, in their 40s and will probably have to work until they can’t.
“You reflect on that and what a sacrifice it is for parents to do that. All immigrants have an idea of that.”
Pocock’s schoolboy switch ultimately paved the way for him to become one of the best in his position in the world and arguably the most dangerous player over the ball from any country.
The no. 7 has made an art out of the jackal and just as goal kickers line up to slot their extras after training, Pocock refines his work over the ball to the point where it becomes instinct.
“"It's like any skill, you are trying to get better at it, more efficient to the point where you are not thinking, you are just responding to what's in front of you,” he said.
“It's like anything, if you are a 10 and trying to read what the defence is doing, little clues and body language.
“You are just playing, you are not getting into a game and having to think, 'Oh he's going that way, so I am going to step', you just do it."
The elements that join together to create that instinct seem simple and though Pocock has seemingly mastered all of them in his career, he never stops working to ensure it stays that way.
"You're doing a huge amount of practice on arriving," he said.
"Arriving there first, arriving there low, and arriving there on your feet, getting straight on to the ball and trying to steal it.
"You're not trying to buy time on the ball on your elbows, you're trying to get in there and be efficient.
"We've been doing a lot of work as a back row and it's something that we'll continue to work on through the tournament.
Pocock’s opportunities at the ruck were limited in Australia’s opening match against Fiji but against a near-impenetrable Wales side on Sunday, the contest in the breakdown is set to be even more fierce.
“Yeah, you look at the back row they’ve been picking and are likely to pick, a couple of really good on-ballers,” he said.
“It is an area where every team is wanting to put pressure on the opposition and that will be no different for us.
“Working on the timing around that and what we can do to get some pay there in D.”
The Wallabies take on Wales on Sunday September 29 at Tokyo Stadium, kicking off at 4:45pm local, 5:45pm AEST, LIVE on Foxtel, Network Ten and via RUGBY.com.au Radio, Rugby Xplorer and Amazon Alexa.
