Another setback for embattled Wallabies
INJURY UPDATE: Australia’s prospects of ending their losing streak suffered another cruel blow, just hours before their Rugby Championship encounter with South Africa.
The Wallabies’ star fullback, Israel Folau, was pulled from the line-up for Saturday’s Test against the Springboks due to a nagging ankle injury.
This setback follows after the injury-enforced absence of star loose forward David Pocock – the result of a neck injury.
Folau injured his ankle in the opening Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand on August 18 and had only returned to training this past week.
He had been included in the starting side announced earlier in the week, but the Wallabies announced Saturday morning that he had been ruled out of the Test against the Springboks “after failing to overcome an ankle injury”.
“Dane Haylett-Petty will slot in at fullback with Jack Maddocks promoted to the right wing and Tom Banks earning his start off the bench,” the team said in a statement.
Coach Michael Cheika had already shaken up the line-up for this weekend’s Test after the Wallabies lost six of their past seven games, including ceding the Bledisloe Cup to New Zealand for the 16th consecutive year following a 40-12 hammering in Auckland and a 38-13 thrashing in Sydney.
Cheika notably pulled Bernard Foley, a 60-Test veteran, from the starting 15, moving Kurtley Beale to the number 10 spot in his place.
The Wallabies, stuck at the bottom of the Rugby Championship standings, have lost their last four Tests – against New Zealand (twice) and Ireland (twice) – as well as losing six of their last seven internationals.
Saturday’s clash will be the 86th Test match between the two nations, with Australia having won on 36 occasions.
Australia – revised: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Will Genia, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Lukhan Tui, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Izack Rodda, 20 Ned Hanigan, 21 Joe Powell, 22 Bernard Foley, 23 Tom Banks.
Date: Saturday, September 8
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 20.00 (12.00 SA time; 10.00 GMT)
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
