The Australian rugby team’s already lengthy injury list got longer on Monday.
Wallabies hooker Jeremy Paul has been ruled out of Saturday’s Tri-Nations match against South Africa in Perth. And Australia A flyhalf Lachlan MacKay, set to replace another injured player, failed a medical exam.
Paul, one of three hookers in the squad with Brendan Cannon and Stephen Moore, had an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan on his injured shoulder and neck on Sunday, revealing nerve damage. Paul suffered the injury during Australia’s 30-13 loss on Saturday to New Zealand, the team’s third defeat in a row.
Team officials said Wallaby medical staff will also continue to monitor injured flyhalf Matt Giteau and outside centre Stirling Mortlock, who will have an MRI on his calf.
With Giteau in doubt, the 22-year-old MacKay was due to be called into the squad, but a knee injury ruled him out.
Playmaker Stephen Larkham missed the All Black game and was replaced by the now injured Giteau. Fullback Chris Latham and winger Wendell Sailor also missed the New Zealand game with injuries.
Australian coach Eddie Jones says it’s a disappointment for Paul, while Giteau is expected to train lightly on Monday.
”Jeremy has already returned home this morning after failing to improve at all overnight, and he’s hopeful of being right for the Auckland Test,” said Jones of the September 3 match against New Zealand.
”Matt Giteau also had an MRI on his lower back yesterday [Sunday] revealing some soft tissue damage, so we are just going to have to keep an eye on him. Stirling Mortlock is another injury concern at the moment.”
After starting their season with home wins over Samoa, Italy, France and South Africa, the Wallabies lost twice to the Springboks in South Africa, then to New Zealand in Sydney on Saturday.
The Wallabies have not lost four consecutive Tests since 1981, a streak that has prompted calls for Jones to drop captain George Gregan — and for Jones to replaced.
In the Sydney Morning Herald, chief rugby writer Greg Growden said on Monday that Gregan had been placed in an untouchable position by Jones.
”For too long Gregan has been in cruise control, with opponents often knowing exactly what he is going to do in a Test,” Growden wrote.
”He hardly ever attacks the advantage line, he is tap-dancing more and more across field, the amount of time it takes from picking up the ball to offloading is getting longer, and his kicks over the top are becoming less effective.”
In The Australian newspaper, rugby writer Wayne Smith said Gregan replacement Chris Whitaker’s sharper passing from the ruck was noticeable late in Saturday’s match.
He said the Gregan ”package” was shrinking, but the Wallaby captain deserved a share of the world-record 112 test caps. He is two short of that mark.
Jones’ coaching job has also been questioned.
While Australian Rugby Union managing director Gary Flowers said Jones’ position was not in danger, the Herald reported several high-ranking officials were privately questioning Jones’ recent coaching performances. – Sapa-AP