Wallabies under World Cup injury cloud
REACTION: Samu Kerevi and David Porecki will be assessed for injuries, adding to Wallabies coach Eddie Jones’ frustrations after another Bledisloe Cup loss.
Kerevi has a hand injury and Porecki has a shoulder complaint from Australia’s tough-to-take 20-23 loss to New Zealand on Saturday.
The severity of the injuries is not yet known but should be clear by Thursday when Jones names his World Cup squad on a warm-weather camp in Darwin.
Another Wallaby, Jordan Uelese, was withdrawn before kick-off after feeling aggravation in his knee, a longstanding complaint.
The injuries have the potential to blunt any feelgood factor from Australia’s improved showing in Dunedin, but Jones didn’t address their severity in his press conference after fulltime.
#OPINION: How the @wallabies players rated during their 20-23 defeat to @AllBlacks #rugby #sports #R365 #NZLvAUS https://t.co/ol37AquKqk
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) August 5, 2023
“Porecki has got a bit of a shoulder, I’m not sure how bad that is,” he said, before attempting a pair of jokes to downplay two injuries.
“Kerevi punched someone so he’s got a bit of a fist problem, no he didn’t punch anyone. It’s his hand. I’m not sure how bad it is, mate.
“[Uelese] has got an old ACL injury. He’s got a little bit in there that sometimes comes out.
“He talks to his knee, it tells it to get back in [and] sometimes doesn’t get back in.
“Jordy was a bit sore yesterday but he’s been that before and he recovers. But he didn’t recover.”
#REPORT: @AllBlacks overturned a 14-point deficit at the break for a narrow win over @wallabies #rugby #sports #NZLvAUS https://t.co/3Wq9Qb6cHM
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) August 5, 2023
The upside of Uelese’s withdrawal was a debut to Reds hooker Matt Faessler, who was told early on Saturday he was a chance to play when Uelese woke up sore.
Pone Fa’amausili also suffered a pair of scares throughout the match.
Play was stopped for a couple of minutes in the first half, the prop receiving attention to his neck, while he copped a shoulder to the face from a fellow Wallaby early in the second half before he was withdrawn.
The injuries are exactly what Australia didn’t need, five weeks from their opening match of the World Cup.
Doubts remain over veteran captain Michael Hooper’s ability to overcome a calf injury that has kept him out of the last three Tests.
Taniela Tupou also suffered an injury to his ribs in the Bledisloe Cup opener, with no timeline on his return.
Jones wouldn’t say whether the pair would be heading to Darwin for the training camp.
