He recalls not starting a game of rugby at No.8 since the under 12s, but David Pocock is relishing the prospect of testing himself against the world’s best, Kieran Read.

Pocock, 27, has been selected out of position for the Wallabies Rugby Championship decider against the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

It’s been a while since Pocock took the field with No.8 on his back.

“I was a pretty decent No.8 back in the under 12s,” said Pocock.

The switch is the result of Wallabies coach Michael Cheika’s bold and exciting decision to start star openside flankers Michael Hooper and Pocock against the world champions in a game which doubles as the first of two Bledisloe Cup Tests.

The Brumbies star can’t wait to lock horns with All Blacks champion No.8 Read.

“The reason you play the game is to compete against the best and that’s the opportunity I get on Saturday night,” Pocock said.

The two Aussie flankers will combine with the aim of terrorising the All Blacks at the breakdown and Pocock is looking forward to working in tandem with Hooper and said they have been working hard on how they would approach things.

“Having both played openside all Super Rugby season, we’re both flying at the first ruck,” he said.

“I guess it’s the little things, getting that relationship going where we’ll pick and choose and be able to back each other if one of us does one thing we can cover in other aspects.

“It’s a work in progress, but it’s one of those things that comes with practice and game time, but we are pretty comfortable with where we are at.”

Hooper hopes starting with Pocock isn’t a one off.

“David and myself – it’s a learning thing,” he said.

“Hopefully, if we do a good job this weekend, we can get more time doing it and more time together and that’s just going to build and build and snowball into a really good combination.”