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Kuridrani out as Wallabies sink to an all-time low

Roar Guru
25th November, 2014
38

The Wallabies have suffered a double blow ahead of their tour finale against England, losing in-form centre Tevita Kuridrani to injury and slumping to their equal lowest ever ranking.

Kuridrani was hurt early in the second half of Saturday’s 26-23 loss to Ireland in Dublin and tests on Monday confirmed the 23-year-old suffered a low grade syndesmosis injury.

The Fijian-born centre will remain with the squad in London this week but his unavailability for Saturday’s match at Twickenham will hit Australia’s hopes of avoiding their worst spring tour since 2005.

The Wallabies will head into the match with their pride dented further by slipping to fifth in the rankings on Monday following back-to-back losses, with England climbing above them into fourth following a 28-9 win over Samoa.

It matches Australia’s lowest position since the rankings were introduced in 2003.

Brumbies star Kuridrani has been arguably the Wallabies’ form player in recent months, scoring in three of the past six matches and causing havoc in opposition defences with his power and pace.

He arrived at training in a moon boot in London on Monday afternoon and coach Michael Cheika will weigh up how best to replace one of his key attacking weapons in the coming days.

The injury could pave the way for Kurtley Beale to start against England, after the controversial utility replaced Kuridrani off the bench against Ireland.

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Another, more likely, option is Adam Ashley-Cooper shifting in-field from the wing, allowing Henry Speight to retain a spot on one wing and Joe Tomane or Rob Horne to return on the other.

Australia are out to avoid losing three spring tour Tests for the first time in nine years and Saturday’s clash takes on added significance ahead of the sides meeting in the group stage at next year’s World Cup.

“You can certainly treat this match as a warm-up game for that World Cup match,” Ashley-Cooper said on Monday.

“The reality is that’s seven or eight months away, but we do have England at Twickenham in the World Cup so this gives us a really good understanding of what it’s going to be like.”

Australia’s only loss of last year’s European tour came at the hands of England, with a late, controversial try to Owen Farrell handing the hosts a 20-13 win.

“There were a couple of decisions at the end that didn’t go our way but that’s life,” Ashley-Cooper said.

“It was a hard and physical encounter like they always have been when I’ve been here.

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“They’ve always come down to five or seven points and that game was no different.

“It’s the last game of our year and it’s really important we finish on a good note before we pick up together again prior to a rugby World Cup.”

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