Mumm's the word as Wallabies face injury crisis

Lock Dean Mumm will captain the Wallabies for the first time as the tourists hope to avert a full-blown injury crisis in Tuesday night’s fixture against English club side Gloucester.

Physically and mentally battered from their seventh straight loss to the All Blacks, the Wallabies arrived in London from Tokyo with a worrying injury list even before they kick off their grand slam tour of the UK and Ireland.

Winger Peter Hynes (knee) and utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper (shoulder) were causing most concern, while hookers Stephen Moore (chest) and Tatafu Polota-Nau (calf) were also carrying injuries.

Coach Robbie Deans hoped to have a full squad available for selection for Saturday’s Twickenham showdown with England, but was also anxious to avoid any more mishaps at Gloucester, having already lost midfield playmaker Berrick Barnes (ankle) and fellow centre Rob Horne (hamstring) for the duration of the tour.

The Wallabies were holding off sending for more reinforcements – after drafting in Brumbies backs Tyrone Smith and Matt Toomua – but were precariously placed for hookers, with Moore and Polota-Nau the only two specialists in the 35-man squad.

“I’m not sure if we’ve got 22 players left,” winger Lachie Turner said, only half joking, after the wounded Wallabies touched down at Heathrow after an 11-hour journey from Japan.

“At this stage, I’m covering hooker as well, I think. I told Robbie I was happy to push in the scrums.

“No, I don’t think things are that bad yet, but obviously it was a pretty bruising encounter the other night and of course some guys are going to have to back up (on Tuesday).

“It will be tough for those guys after such a tough hit-out and then a travel day like today.

“But I’m sure the rest of us who haven’t had a game are really excited about getting out there and showing what we can do.”

Mumm, Polota-Nau, winger Drew Mitchell, centre Ryan Cross, halfback Luke Burgess and reserves James O’Connor, Matt Dunning and Mark Chisholm will all make the six-hour round trip to Gloucester after featuring in the Test 22 against the All Blacks.

Cross is the only player being asked to start the first two matches of the tour, the former NRL ironman only too happy to assist embattled coach Deans in his hour of need.

“He expressed an interest to back up straight after Saturday night’s match,” Deans said. “It’s great.”

Seven players – centre Smith, rookie reserve halves Toomua and Richard Kingi, fullback Kurtley Beale, flanker Mitchell Chapman, lock David Dennis and prop Salesi Ma’afu and will make their Wallabies debuts in the south-west of England.

Mumm, 25, was handed captaincy responsibilities after making 17 Test appearances, including six starts, since debuting for the Wallabies last year.

“He seemed the logical choice when I looked at the mix of the team,” Deans said.

“He’s got capable leadership qualities, he calls the lineouts, is no slug and is a good communicator.”

Wallabies team to play Gloucester: Kurtley Beale, Lachie Turner, Ryan Cross, Tyrone Smith, Drew Mitchell, Quade Cooper, Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, Matt Hodgson, Mitchell Chapman, Dean Mumm (capt), David Dennis, Salesi Ma’afu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sekope Kepu. Replacements: Pek Cowan, Matt Dunning, Mark Chisholm, Wycliff Palu, Richard Kingi, Matt Toomua, James O’Connor.