Danny
23-08-2005, 09:15 PM
Wallabies' injury woes worsen
By Jim Morton
August 23, 2005
FOXSPORTS
THE Wallabies' nightmare injury crisis worsened today with the news that forwards David Lyons and Dan Vickerman will go under the knife immediately.
No.8 Lyons will undergo a groin operation while lock Vickerman must have shoulder surgery after attempts to carry injuries through the Tri-Nations came unstuck.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones hasn't totally dismissed the notion of postponing Vickerman's operation until after the Test against New Zealand a week on Saturday, but he admitted the New South Wales second-rower was unlikely to play in Auckland.
The dual blows means Australia has 12 regular Test players sidelined or in doubt for the final Tri-Nations encounter.
The injury horrors, which have forced Jones to try 35 different players this season, have been compounded by the fact that nine fringe candidates are unavailable.
The Wallabies selectors as a result may pitch unheralded rookies such as five-eighth Scott Daruda and second-rower Al Kanaar into Test actions against the All Blacks.
Neither even had a Super 12 contracts at the start of the year.
Jones's intentions to name an extended squad for the return Bledisloe Cup match have meanwhile been delayed until tomorrow, after receiving medical advice on a string of doubtful players.
Searching for a first win in five Tests to avoid its worst-ever Tri-Nations result, Australia is desperate for good news on injured five-eighths Matt Giteau (lower back), Elton Flatley (blurred vision) and Lachlan MacKay (knee).
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Flatley, whose career is at the crossroads, visited a doctor in Brisbane today about concussion symptoms, but he isn't expected to receive a clear assessment until later in the week.
Brisbane Brothers club mate Daruda, 19, has been placed on stand-by to become the first teenage pivot to play for the Wallabies since Pat Howard in 1993, despite never having started a match for Queensland.
"I will definitely take (any opportunity) with both hands," the Western Force-signing, who will leapfrog the likes of Julian Huxley, Shaun Berne and Sam Norton-Knight, said.
Already without playmaker Stephen Larkham, five-eighth is the worst hit position for the wallabies, shading second row where Waratahs bench player Kanaar and fringe Brumbies lock-flanker Adam Wallace-Harrison are in line to make an unlikely Test debut as a reserve.
Mark Chisholm would be the automatic starting replacement for Vickerman, whose worth as the Wallabies prime lineout target is unquestioned.
Jones has opted against calling 34-Test veteran Justin Harrison back from Ireland, despite Vickerman joining Hugh McMeniman (groin), Radike Samo (knee), Daniel Heenan (shoulder) and Al Campbell (groin) on the sidelines.
He indicated the fact the Ulster-signed Harrison didn't figure in World Cup plans had effectively ended his international career.
"Justin had a definite time line in Australia," Jones said. "We'd get a lot of value out of trying to win Test matches trying to play him now but in the end we'd only have him until now."
Jones admitted George Smith was an option at No.8 along with John Roe after Lyons finally succumbed to the muscular groin problem he has carried since the Super 12.
"He's done really well, tried to manage it, and showed plenty of courage to keep on playing," he said.
"He's a guy who's played continuously since 2001 without ever having an off-season, so we're seeing the wear and tear on a guy like him."
As well as prompting thoughts whether the Wallabies have ever witnessed a worse injury crisis in 106 years of Test rugby, the injuries begged the question whether the Australian Rugby Union should overturn its hard-line stance blocking overseas-based players from selection.
"We've just got to be good enough to cope with it," Jones said.
"These are the challenges you face. We've got good players there so we have to replace them and get on with it."
By Jim Morton
August 23, 2005
FOXSPORTS
THE Wallabies' nightmare injury crisis worsened today with the news that forwards David Lyons and Dan Vickerman will go under the knife immediately.
No.8 Lyons will undergo a groin operation while lock Vickerman must have shoulder surgery after attempts to carry injuries through the Tri-Nations came unstuck.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones hasn't totally dismissed the notion of postponing Vickerman's operation until after the Test against New Zealand a week on Saturday, but he admitted the New South Wales second-rower was unlikely to play in Auckland.
The dual blows means Australia has 12 regular Test players sidelined or in doubt for the final Tri-Nations encounter.
The injury horrors, which have forced Jones to try 35 different players this season, have been compounded by the fact that nine fringe candidates are unavailable.
The Wallabies selectors as a result may pitch unheralded rookies such as five-eighth Scott Daruda and second-rower Al Kanaar into Test actions against the All Blacks.
Neither even had a Super 12 contracts at the start of the year.
Jones's intentions to name an extended squad for the return Bledisloe Cup match have meanwhile been delayed until tomorrow, after receiving medical advice on a string of doubtful players.
Searching for a first win in five Tests to avoid its worst-ever Tri-Nations result, Australia is desperate for good news on injured five-eighths Matt Giteau (lower back), Elton Flatley (blurred vision) and Lachlan MacKay (knee).
Advertisement:
Flatley, whose career is at the crossroads, visited a doctor in Brisbane today about concussion symptoms, but he isn't expected to receive a clear assessment until later in the week.
Brisbane Brothers club mate Daruda, 19, has been placed on stand-by to become the first teenage pivot to play for the Wallabies since Pat Howard in 1993, despite never having started a match for Queensland.
"I will definitely take (any opportunity) with both hands," the Western Force-signing, who will leapfrog the likes of Julian Huxley, Shaun Berne and Sam Norton-Knight, said.
Already without playmaker Stephen Larkham, five-eighth is the worst hit position for the wallabies, shading second row where Waratahs bench player Kanaar and fringe Brumbies lock-flanker Adam Wallace-Harrison are in line to make an unlikely Test debut as a reserve.
Mark Chisholm would be the automatic starting replacement for Vickerman, whose worth as the Wallabies prime lineout target is unquestioned.
Jones has opted against calling 34-Test veteran Justin Harrison back from Ireland, despite Vickerman joining Hugh McMeniman (groin), Radike Samo (knee), Daniel Heenan (shoulder) and Al Campbell (groin) on the sidelines.
He indicated the fact the Ulster-signed Harrison didn't figure in World Cup plans had effectively ended his international career.
"Justin had a definite time line in Australia," Jones said. "We'd get a lot of value out of trying to win Test matches trying to play him now but in the end we'd only have him until now."
Jones admitted George Smith was an option at No.8 along with John Roe after Lyons finally succumbed to the muscular groin problem he has carried since the Super 12.
"He's done really well, tried to manage it, and showed plenty of courage to keep on playing," he said.
"He's a guy who's played continuously since 2001 without ever having an off-season, so we're seeing the wear and tear on a guy like him."
As well as prompting thoughts whether the Wallabies have ever witnessed a worse injury crisis in 106 years of Test rugby, the injuries begged the question whether the Australian Rugby Union should overturn its hard-line stance blocking overseas-based players from selection.
"We've just got to be good enough to cope with it," Jones said.
"These are the challenges you face. We've got good players there so we have to replace them and get on with it."