Another Wallaby bites the dust
With captain David Pocock sidelined for three months the Wallabies have suffered another blow with tighthead Sekope Kepu the latest player to fall.
The 120 kg front row stalwart sustained a grade two strain to the medial ligament of his right knee at training on Tuesday, with scans later revealing the full extent of the injury.
This leaves the Wallabies desperately short on experience in their pack ahead of their must-win Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
With New Zealand loosehead Tony Woodcock ruled out of the match with a rib injury, it was hoped that Kepu would be able to exert some pressure on his replacement, but it is the Wallabies who are likely to have their backs to the wall as they attempt to win at Eden Park for the first time since 1986.
Pocock is expected to be out of action for up to three months after undergoing key hole surgery in Sydney.
Pocock was operated on after damaging the articular cartilage of his right knee and the recommended timeline for rehabilitation means that he will not take any further part in the Rugby Championship, while his availability for Australia's year-end tour is also considered doubtful.
With regular skipper James Horwill also currently sidelined through injury scrumhalf Will Genia has been confirmed to take over in the captaincy role from Pocock whilst Michael Hooper or uncapped Queensland Reds player Liam Gill in contention to replace him on the field for the remainder of the Rugby Championship..
Coach Robbie Deans also faces a selection headache over whether to retain Kurtley Beale at fullback or recall mercurial flyhalf Quade Cooper.
Beale put in an error-strewn showing on Saturday, but Cooper fell short of expectations at last year's World Cup where he was relentlessly jeered and booed by All Blacks fans, and is still recovering from a knee injury.
Deans has said he is considering the polarising Cooper as an option for Saturday, despite his likely hostile reception from the New Zealand crowd over alleged cheap shots on their side's veteran captain Richie McCaw.
