Wallaby injury crisis unfolds
NEWS: Wallaby coach Michael Cheika has a new headache ahead of Australia’s year-end tour – starting with the third Bledisloe Cup clash against New Zealand in Japan.
Melbourne Rebels pair Reece Hodge and Angus Cottrell have been ruled out of the third Bledisloe Cup Test this coming Saturday, after both suffered injuries at training.
Hodge injured his ankle in the team’s final training session on home soil this past Friday and will sit out the clash against New Zealand as well as the upcoming tour.
Cottrell suffered a knee injury this past Thursday and while it’s not considered serious, the back row forward will be racing the clock to be fit in time for the final three Tests of the year against Wales, Italy and England.
It’s a cruel blow for the 28-year old who was on the cusp of a Test debut following a stellar Super Rugby season for the Melbourne Rebels, before leading the Melbourne Rising in the National Rugby Championship.
Brumbies back row forward Pete Samu will now join the Wallabies squad in Japan after the Canberra Viking’s NRC campaign came to a close yesterday, following their defeat to the Fijian Drua.
Samu managed 20 minutes for the Vikings in what was his first game back since injuring his knee last month against Argentina on the Gold Coast.
The squad for the tour of Wales, Italy and England will be named following the final Bledisloe Cup clash of 2018.
Australian squad
Forwards: Jermaine Ainsley, Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Jack Dempsey, Folau Fainga’a, Ned Hanigan, Jed Holloway, Michael Hooper (captain), Sekope Kepu, Tolu Latu, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, David Pocock, Izack Rodda, Pete Samu, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Taniela Tupou.
Backs: Tom Banks, Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Jake Gordon, Dane Haylett-Petty, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Jack Maddocks, Sefa Naivalu, Nick Phipps.
