Pocock is ready to flank up

POOL C Australia v Italy:AUSTRALIA BACKROW David Pocock has welcomed being described as the world's greatest openside ahead of Richie McCaw.

Pocock received the praise from the unlikely source of All Black great Josh Kronfeld, who won 54 caps in the number seven jersey between 1995-2000.

“Master” was the word used to describe Pocock and the 23-year-old breakdown specialist is delighted by the favourable comparison with the enduringly-brilliant McCaw.

“It’s great coming from a guy like Josh Kronfeld,” he said.

“He was a legend. I remember watching him when I was at primary school, with his headgear.

“He was one of those loose forwards who always had it right because he’d follow the winger, Jonah Lomu or whoever it may have been. When they got tackled near the line they’d pop it up to him and he’d score the try. He was very good at doing that.

“So that’s something coming from him, but I’ve just got to focus on my own game.

“Even Richie not at his best is pretty good. I reckon he’ll put in a good performance this weekend and he leads the team well.”

Pocock starts tomorrow’s Pool C opener against Italy after Australia coach Robbie Deans retained the XV that started last month’s Tri Nations-clinching 25-20 victory over New Zealand. He will pack down alongside Rocky Elsom who, despite losing the captaincy of Australia, has inicated that he will sign a new two year deal with the ARFU.

“Italy are definitely one of the teams that has improved the most over the last four years leading into this World Cup, so we’re in for a good game,” said Deans.

Italy have made two changes, with hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini replacing Fabio Ongaro, while Alessandro Zanni comes in for Paul Derbyshire at blindside flanker.

The team contains 13 of the 15 players who started Italy’s 22-21 victory over France in this year’s Six Nations.

AUSTRALIA: K Beale; A Ashley-Cooper, A Faingaa, P McCabe, D Ioane; Q Cooper, W Genia; B Alexander, S Moore, S Kepu; J Horwill (captain), D Vickerman; R Samo, D Pocock, R Elsom. Replacements: T Polota-Nau, J Slipper, R Simmons, B McCalman, S Higginbotham, L Burgess, J OConnor.

ITALY: A Masi; T Benvenuti, G Canale, G Garcia, M Bergamasco; L Orquera, F Semenzato; M Castrogiovanni, L Ghiraldini, A Lo Ciceroi; C van Zyl, C del Fava; S Parisse (captain), R Barbieri, A Zann. Replacements: T DApice, L Cittadini, M Bortolami, P Derbyshire, E Gori, R Bocchino, L McLean.

Referee: A Rolland(Ireland).