Brumbies receive Pocock boost

Editor

David Pocock is free to travel to South Africa with the Brumbies despite suffering a bloodied nose against the Force.

The Brumbies are promising no let-up after seizing Super Rugby title favouritism as their chief conference rivals brace for another early test of their own championship credentials.

The Brumbies, including champion flanker Pocock and his broken nose, left for a two-game stint in South Africa vowing to keep their foot on the pedal after extending their unbeaten start to 2016 with a 31-14 dispatch of the Western Force in Perth.

After collecting 15 tries from their blistering three-from-three start, the Brumbies have opened up an eight-point break over the NSW Waratahs, who host the defending champion Highlanders in Sydney on Friday night.

While the Waratahs are freshened by the bye, the Brumbies are carrying several battered troops, including Pocock, who was left bloodied and dazed following a heavy tackle from Force hooker Heath Tessmann early in the second half at nib Stadium.

But coach Stephen Larkham said the Wallabies superstar would soldier on and is challenging his competition frontrunners to retain the intensity against the Stormers in Cape Town.

Victory at Newlands would give the Brumbies four successive wins to launch a campaign for the first time since 2013, the last year they reached the final.

"We've certainly had a good start to the competition, but that doesn't mean you're going to play well in your next game," Larkham said.

"Over the last couple of years, we've lost some really tight games, and that's hurt us in the finals period.

"The challenge for us is to keep the mindset on the next game."