Wallaby captain's World Cup dream shattered
Star Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa will miss the World Cup after he was stretchered off the MCG during the Bledisloe Cup clash with New Zealand.
With three minutes remaining in the first half and the Australians trailing 12-7, the prop’s leg got caught as a scrum went to ground with Alaalaota appearing in obvious pain.
He was seen on the field post-match on crutches.
Coach Eddie Jones confirmed the 29-year-old had suffered a ‘serious injury’, which will rule him out of the tournament in France, starting early September.
“He’s got a fairly serious injury I would suggest, an Achilles,” Jones said after the match.
The prop was leading the team with the two Wallabies’ co-captains off the field.
James Slipper started on the bench while Michael Hooper is sidelined with a calf injury.
The Wallabies also lost Alaalatoa’s replacement Taniela Tupou midway through the second half with a rib injury.
He’s unlikely to be available for the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Dunedin next Saturday while Jones confirmed Hooper would also remain in Australia.
The Wallabies have endured a nightmare Bledisloe Cup clash at the MCG, losing the trophy to the All Blacks for a 21st year and Alaalatoa’s World Cup dream shattered.
The 29-year-old Alaalatoa’s leg got caught as a scrum went to the ground while they also lost his replacement Taniela Tupou, playing his first Test back from his own Achilles injury, early in the second half with a rib injury.
While the largest rugby crowd in more than 20 years – 83,944 – turned out, Australian fans left disappointed with the Wallabies going down 7-38 – now winless in their three Tests under coach Eddie Jones.
Two late tries in the first half put New Zealand ahead 19-7, and then the wheels completely fell off the Wallabies in the second stanza with the visitors crossing three times in eight minutes to put the result out of reach.
* (Watch the match highlights below …)
