http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...005401,00.html
March 28, 2007 09:30am

ESTABLISHED Wallaby stars have been warned that the Western Force's Super 14 success could lead to some World Cup selection shocks.

And teenage Force flanker David Pocock is among the bolters in John Connolly's thinking.

Wallaby coaching lieutenants Scott Johnson and Michael Foley were in Perth today, taking close watch as John Mitchell's rising stars begin preparations for the high-flying Sharks at Subiaco on Friday.

Lying fifth in the Super 14 standings - or just one point outside a finals spot - the form of Cameron Shepherd, Gareth Hardy, Ryan Cross and 18 year-old Pocock has shone alongside established Wallaby stars Nathan Sharpe and Matt Giteau.

And with the traditional heavyweights NSW and Queensland propping up the Super 14 ladder, Johnson admitted established thinking may have to be altered if the Force continue their second-season resurgence.

``They have been the shining light of Australian rugby,'' Johnson said ``The (Force players) are certainly there or thereabouts, because they are the form team on paper and on the scoreboard.

``From that point of view they have got to be putting pressure on the more traditional type person that everyone perceives as a walkup start.

``They have done exceptionally well, and it is no fluke they have got the wins that they have and performed against some quality sides.

``They are putting pressure on players, coaches and selectors - and that is what you want.''

Despite his remit to take charge of the Wallaby backline, Johnson admitted the form of Pocock - whose breakdown work earned him a man-of-the-match performance against the Reds two weeks ago - had been noted.

``I don't think you have to be a rocket scientist, a number of guys have stood up. Young Pocock in his first year has done really well, Shep has done really well,'' Johnson said.

``But what Mitch has done fabulously well here is put a team together that wants to play for each other.

``If you get that, the good talents come to the fore. They have got a great team culture and they are playing like a rugby team, and success comes from that.''

And with the overall plight of Australian rugby seen as gloomy ahead of the World Cup in France, Johnson said he believed the short-term pain would be worth long-term gain.

``This is the pain we had to have because we are trying to spread the gospel. Living abroad, I have noted that Australia has been the greatest overachievers in world rugby,'' Johnson said. ``Three World Cup finals, two wins and a very small player base.

``Yes (a fourth team) has diluted our player base a little bit, but ... in four or five years' time we will look at each other and say 'Can we believe we actually thought these are tough times'.''

With Giteau and halfback ally Matt Henjak both fit again, the Force coach faces a happy headache as he bids to hand the Natal side their second successive loss at Australian hands.

Replacements Chris O'Young and Jimmy Hilgendorf filled in admirably against the Reds, and could both be considered unlucky if ousted.