Another Wallaby goes down injured
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Brumbies’ forwards depth has come up trumps when called on this season but could face its toughest test yet with Wallabies lock Rory Arnold the latest to join the injury ward.
Arnold left the field with a sprained ankle 18 minutes into the Brumbies’ gritty 26-21 Super Rugby victory over the Blues on Saturday and then limped out of Canberra Stadium.
The 208cm second-rower will likely join star flank David Pocock on the sidelines for the Brumbies clash against the Sunwolves on Sunday.
“It could be a high ankle sprain, we’re not sure yet,” Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said of Arnold.
James Slipper also left the field against the Blues, after a head knock, but Brumbies coach Dan McKellar is hopeful the in-form prop won’t miss any games.
The Brumbies are still without a third hooker after Josh Mann-Rea tore his ACL, while back-rowers Lachlan McCaffrey and Rob Valetini are unavailable but expected to return soon.
The Brumbies returned from an long trip to down the Blues and are now level on points with Australian conference leaders the Melbourne Rebels.
McKellar’s forwards have been superb in recent weeks and the coach admitted it has been a luxury having three Wallabies props at his disposal – Slipper, Scott Sio and Allan Alaalatoa.
“That was part of the reason I pushed hard to get Slips here,” McKellar said.
“It’s a tough position to play and Scotty and Slips are managing nicely at the moment, and Al has had some big shifts but he’s phenomenal in terms of his ability.”
McKellar believes it’s his unsung heroes who are driving the Brumbies form as they push for a finals berth with five games to play.
“We’re in a nice a position to be able to have that sort of quality and depth throughout the front row but then I look at the rest of the pack a well and the job our back-rowers have done,” McKellar said.
“Six months ago nobody had a clue who Jahrome Brown was, myself included.
“He’s been tremendous, as have Pete Samu, Tom Cusack, Murray Douglas and Darcy Swain.
“It just gives you a lot of confidence in the depth of the group.
“These boys are doing a lot of work, which we’re really conscious of, but I think they’re enjoying it.
“When you’re bringing on quality players and guys are making really good contributions it makes it easy and you have no hesitation in going to those boys.”
AAP
