Wallaby veteran a doubt for Bok clash
NEWS: Wallaby co-captain James Slipper is in doubt for their opening Rugby Championship Test against South Africa after suffering a knee injury at training.
Coach Eddie Jones sent an SOS to uncapped prop Blake Schoupp following Slipper’s mishap, which is a massive blow to Australia’s hopes of a first-ever win in Pretoria.
The Wallabies only have seven players in the squad remaining from their last Test in South Africa in 2019, with 34-year-old Test centurion Slipper among them.
Brumbies rising star Schoupp arrived on Wednesday to be on standby, with the team for the Loftus Versfeld encounter to be announced on Thursday.
When first selected in a preliminary Wallabies training squad this year Jones said the 23-year-old loosehead was the perfect prop prototype.
“He is built like a brick s***house isn’t he?” Jones said of the Wollongong product.
“He is perfectly built to be a prop.”
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The Wallabies face a challenge against the massive Springboks pack with fellow props Angus Bell (toe) and Taniela Tupou (Achilles) unlikely to suit up after long-term injuries.
Matt Gibbon comes into the selection frame at loosehead, Allan Alaalatoa, who is also coming off a calf injury, on the tighthead side for the Saturday Test).
Jones is predicted to throw up a few selection curveballs with former NRL star wing Suliasi Vunivalu tipped for his first Test start.
Uncapped Brumbies utility forward Tom Hooper is expected to wear the No.6 jersey with co-captain Michael Hooper (no relation) and Rob Valetini rounding out the back row.
