Pocock made his Wallabies debut in Hong Kong in late 2008, and then played against Italy and The Barbarians on the Wallabies spring tour. He captained the Australian Under-20s at the Junior World Championships in England in 2008, and was awarded the Emirates Western Force captaincy for the development tour of England later that year.

In 2010, Pocock became the first choice openside flanker for the Wallabies.