David Pocock has made the most of a dominant Brumbies maul this season © Getty Images

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It was heralded way back in July 2012 as one of the best - if not the best signings in the history of the Brumbies' existence. To have secured the services of the then Wallabies captain, David Pocock, was seen universally as a massive coup for the Canberra-based club.

Pocock was regarded among the best players in the world, despite being just 24 at the time and playing for a side who had never played finals rugby; indeed, when he announced his move, the Western Force had finished second-last on the Super Rugby table with just three wins for the season.

Though he spoke of wanting to play under Jake White, Laurie Fisher, and Stephen Larkham, a major reason for Pocock's move to the Brumbies was to do something he'd not yet done in his career to that point: play Super Rugby finals. Nearly three years on, Pocock has finally ticked that box.

His 2013 and 2014 seasons were wrecked by consecutive season-ending knee injuries, consigning him to the couch and sidelines as his teammates won through to the final and semi-finals in both campaigns.

"There were a whole heap of reasons [for leaving the Force after six seasons], and it's been a fairly long journey to get back to playing and all the rest; whatever's happened over the last few years," Pocock told ESPN this week, as the Brumbies prepared for their third semi-final in as many years.

"But yeah, obviously, to go to Cape Town and win like that was pretty special - finals footy or not. For it to happen in the finals, we were obviously pretty happy about it."

The Brumbies' 39-19 win over the Stormers - the South African conference champions - at their Newlands fortress has been widely lauded this week, and has even been described as "one of Super Rugby's greatest away finals wins."

Pocock's own return to form has been a major factor in the Brumbies' late-season resurgence. He's back playing at a level many regard as his best, and indeed, we named in the ESPN Super Rugby Team of the Season just last week; the only Australian player in the side. But Pocock himself gives little away.

"I'm not really in the business of rating my form," he said. "I'll leave that for other people to decide. I feel like I'm playing well within the team structure, doing my role, and I guess that's our big focus, to go out there and perform your individual role and then that leads to a good team performance.

"I've loved getting more game time, and I think it's just one of those things where when you start playing week to week, you get a bit of momentum and all of those little timing things come back. So I do feel like I'm finding my feet again, in that regard."

With the Brumbies back in the finals again, Pocock admits that the last few years have been tough viewing.

"When you're injured, you're always wanting the team to do well, but it doesn't make it easier [to watch]. It's just one of those things - poor Sammy Carter's going through the same thing now. There's nothing you can do, but sit back and watch. I guess it gives you a bit of appreciation of what coaches go through. You just sit there and watch, and whatever happens, happens."

Even if it's only mild annoyance, it would still be a big motivating factor to get back on the field again. Footballers, and indeed sportspeople the world over love playing more than anything, and to have that taken well is often a bitter pill to swallow. And that makes Pocock's comeback from two knee reconstructions and an ankle syndesmosis injury in the opening rounds this year, all the more impressive.

"When you're injured, you just want to get back out there, and you want to be enjoying your rugby. And I know myself, that when I'm enjoying myself, I play well, and I've enjoyed the season so far," Pocock said. "You don't want to look too far past that; just getting out there in your best physical condition, and mentally getting yourself right."

After the opening game of the season, Pocock's first game back from the second knee injury, he said post-match that he was looking forward to the day when he wasn't asked about his knee. Those days are here, and he's pretty happy about it.

David Pocock has enjoyed a fine Super Rugby season at No.7 © Getty Images

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"Oh mate, I've talked to so many people about my knee over the last few years," he says, smiling. "It's one of those things when you're injured; that's what happens, so to get back is great. I haven't thought about it for a long time now, and it hasn't really been a part of my preparations. Obviously, I still keep up all the weights and pre-hab stuff, but it's not a concern."

And of course, the major reason we're not talking about his knee is because we're talking about the try-scoring. Pocock was the runaway leader on the team's try tally in 2015, courtesy of two hat-tricks and a very strong Brumbies maul. Pocock's eight tries were only just caught by Joe Tomane's own treble in Cape Town last weekend.

Pocock himself sees the funny side. He said he scored plenty of tries in junior footy, but he'd never crossed for three at senior level.

"I was talking to mate from school about this other day, actually, because years ago, back in 2008 I think, we played a trial against the Reds [for the Western Force] and I scored a hat-trick in the trial, but then didn't score another try in the actual Super season," he said. "And after the trial, he said to me, 'Mate, you can't score all your tries now, you've got to score them in Super Rugby. These don't count!'

"So it's good, but look, they're forwards tries; all I did was put the ball down. I'm certainly not getting carried away with maul tries."