O’Mahony defends Pocock following ‘cancer on the game’ insult

Peter O’Mahony has defended David Pocock after the Australia flanker was described as a “cancer on the game” by former Ireland international Neil Francis.

Francis took aim at Pocock in a newspaper column this week, bemoaning the 30-year-old’s tactics at the breakdown while also saying he has a “grudging admiration” for the Wallabies forward.

Captain O’Mahony said the tourists do not agree with Francis’ comments as they prepare to try and level the three-match series at AAMI Park on Saturday.

“I don’t read a huge of media stuff and I don’t read a huge amount of Neil Francis stuff but I certainly don’t think that’s the opinion we, certainly as a group, or as a nation have of David,” he said.

“He’s an incredible rugby player – you saw the impact on the game he had last week and I certainly wouldn’t be standing by a comment like that.”

Australia head coach Michael Cheika was also unimpressed with Francis’ comments.

“That guy needs to choose his words a little better I think, to be honest,” he said.

“It’s not a very nice thing to say. I’m not worried about what he thinks about Poey’s footy, I just think that’s not a very nice term to use.

“There’s people who are really sick out there. I’m not into that.

“He used to say a lot of stuff about us when I coached Leinster as well. Some unflattering words he would use for his own publicity. That’s fine.”

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