Australia’s backline depth will be sorely tested with unlucky No.13 Rob Horne ruled out for the rest of 2010 with an elbow fracture.
Scans in Melbourne on Sunday revealed a break and also ligament damage to the outside centre’s arm which was giving him trouble before the 49-28 loss to New Zealand.
While Horne is still only 20 and six Tests into his career, it’s another terrible blow for the Wallabies as there is no clear-cut No.13 back-up.
“It’s very disappointing, especially to be leaving the team midway through the (Tri-Nations) series,” he said.
“My focus now is getting the surgery and starting my rehabiliation.”
Likely replacement, utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper is more than capable at outside centre but it will cause a big change in Robbie Deans’ plans due to his importance at fullback against the All Blacks.
There is no strong alternative with Queenslanders Digby Ioane and Will Chambers, who impressed for the Reds in his debut season, both sidelined after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Ashley-Cooper’s switch to No.13 could open the way for Waratah Kurtley Beale to start at fullback on Saturday in Christchurch or cause a bigger reshuffle with James O’Connor moved from the wing and Cameron Shepherd promoted to the wing.
Shepherd has been added to the Wallabies 24-man squad along with back-rowers Scott Higginbotham and Ben McCalman.
Injuries to first-choice players Ioane and Peter Hynes (ankle) have left Australia’s three-quarter stocks threadbare.
The suspension of playmaker Quade Cooper also hurt the Wallabies backline who lacked the same cohesion and line-breaking danger without the in-form five-eighth.
Cooper’s replacement, Berrick Barnes, tried as hard as ever but had a night he’d rather forget after having his 10th-minute clearing kick charged down for a Dan Carter try.
It was an immediate atonement for Carter, who had just conceded a chargedown try to Drew Mitchell, and set the tone for a horror night for the Wallabies.
“I guess my kick got charged down, there’s nothing else to say and it cost us,” Barnes said on Sunday. “It’s a big thing for any Test – back to back points – and it really didn’t help us, that kick.”
Lock Dean Mumm and halfback Will Genia also suffered low-grade knee ligament injuries but Deans was confident both would be available on Saturday.
Due to injuries and a lack of depth across the board it’s hard to see Deans make many starting changes on top of replacing Horne.
Queensland flanker Higginbotham could be one to make his Test debut off the bench after playing another game of club rugby on Saturday.
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