The Wallabies have received a blow ahead of Saturday’s (0130 Sunday AEDT) rugby Test against England with reserve hooker Huia Edmonds ruled out. Edmonds has a shoulder problem he picked up during his strong performance in the midweek win over Leicester.
He will be replaced on the Australian bench by Saia Fainga’a.
The loss of the experienced Edmonds is a setback for the Wallabies, who were hoping he would be part of the solution to their scrummaging woes.
“It’s very disappointing this late in the piece,” skipper Rocky Elsom said.
“It’s a very hard call for him to not be able to play but I guess it’s probably the right call.”
Edmonds is the third Australian hooker to suffer an injury on tour, with Stephen Moore a late withdrawal last week against Wales and Fainga’a limping off the Millennium Stadium with a cork.
Moore is back to start at Twickenham while Fainga’a, whose lighter frame was possibly one factor in the scrum meltdown in Cardiff, gets another chance.
“Saia’s fine, he’s a pretty resilient guy,” Elsom said.
“There’s nothing wrong with what Saia’s doing at the moment.”
Edmonds should be right for next Tuesday’s clash with Munster in Limerick, while former starting hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau was also added to the squad this week.
Elsom is unconcerned that most of the talk this week has been about the Australian scrum.
“Last year there was a lot of talk about the scrum, the year before that there was a lot of talk about the scrum, 2007 there was a lot of talk about the scrum, 2005 they didn’t say anything and it didn’t go very well,” he said.
“It’s hard to say what will happen.”
But Elsom said the Wallabies’ last-up 21-20 loss to England, in Sydney in June, had helped prepare Australia for a massive assignment in front of 82,000 in south-west London.
“You try when you’re winning matches to see everything as it is and not get carried away with the win,” he said.
“With a loss you can’t help but look over everything.
“That (loss) helped us along a hell of a lot.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to get a lot out of our losses.
“In saying that, you’d prefer not to have them.”
Australia have not lost a Test to the Red Rose in England since coach Robbie Deans took over in 2008.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
SBW > The Wallabies? I'm surprised The Roar hasn't collapsed in on itself.
warrenexpatinnz
Guest
Disappointing loss, England played well and deserved the win and continues this mini hoodoo for the Wallabies against them. Some lessons learned by the guys, maybe pricked the ego bubble and the next game they will play with their feet on the ground. My only defining opinions out of this game is that Giteau must now be played from the bench only and impact players like Anthony Faianga and Ioanne when fit must start. The forwards need TPN starting next week and with that some extra venom. Big positive, England didn't out score us in the try department and Beale, pity Giteau couldn't be injected with this blokes blood. Swallow the loss and now want two decisive victories, plus the mid week game to finish the tour off positively.
Cattledog
Guest
Wasn't it 20 metres?
Sam Taulelei
Guest
Red Rooster can I order that Wallaby all you can eat menu to go, with large fries and a coke please. Better make that two!
Ben S
Roar Guru
Lol. Enjoy the beach, Mick. Perhaps you lot should send Deans to Blackburn?!
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Brief response 'cos ABs is about to start - on the most important bit. I watched Slipper particularly and I think he is coming along well - he showed quick reflexes there at one stage and ran (a shameful) 15 metres with the ball, to re-focus the attack. The more I see the more confident I become, nothwithstanding I am a hard marker on that position. Baby son sees it similarly. I'll watch again later in day to study how forwards went - I was very focussed tonight on Johnson's clever defence midfield. Gee those Scots know how to put together a real anthem.
Chris K
Guest
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
That's a fair enough summary, Ben S. I like Red Roosters menu above, which will be trotted out here over the next few days. It was a good contest and I waited, at my son's insistence, for England to fold in the last 15 minutes, which they didn't. I later told him that a death stare from a monstrous fellow like Martin Johnson is obviously a powerful motivator! This Johnson played a wholly different counter to the Wobblies centre field tactics, defence rushing up (in a disciplined manner for most of it) and putting pressure on blokes who have proven time and again they are no good under pressure (we invariably panic, go alone, lose cohesion and so on). He had them run at Cooper all day, as he should have, and even that plan was adopted right to the end. I haven't seen an England team as committed and effective for the whole of the match for a good while. They ran our preferred style right back at us and we were not good enough. I have a genetic distaste for being beaten by the Poms at anything but tonight I can satisfy myself only with the fact that you clever lot sent us to a distant and horrible place like Manly Beach, as punishment.
Damo
Guest
Gits saved a try and woke team up by getting binned. Not enough for a starting 12. Goal-kicking?
Damo
Guest
All this scrum talk from England was a smokescreen, They were always going to attack our 'strengths' - the back 3. Back to classroom boys.
Cattledog
Guest
G'day Mick, watched the game from my lonely Guest House (everyones goooone for Eid). Not that concerned, England played exceptionally well and deserved the win. I note many comments here about not releasing Genia and I must say I said to myself 'that's a clear penalty, what's going on'? That was definately a turning point but certainly O'Connor missing most of his kicks didn't help. SURELY, that performance was enough to hang Giteau this time. If he's there again, then it's confirmed he's Robbies 'love child'! Beale again excellent. Cooper a turnstyle again but this time going super fast!! McCallman, well, let's hope Higginbotham gets game time. A closer score line would have been a better reflection of the match but I still would have given the points decision to England. Slipper played well when he came on. Should start next test, me thinks. Ben Robinson still not up to it. I think Van the man would have revelled in that situation and if they've brought a guy that old on tour, use him stupid or why bother. Some stand outs for England. No 9 (man of the match and deservedly), Ashton and thier No 11 was superb. Long way between now and RWC, but certainly some hope for the NH with that performance. Hope you had a good night. Mick! Tawk soon.
Red Rooster
Guest
I note that comments on the IRB website suggest with Wallabies losing and South Africa winning we have now returned to be the third ranked rugby nation - I bet JON is a happy little camper - Not
woodster
Guest
The ref wasnt too bad from a neutrals position just a bit pedantic and didint make it a test atmosphere more carnival wasnt strict with calls. (bar scrum calls)
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Too funny - ain't retribution sweet ohtani's jacket? (I'm a Wobbly man but I follow the hyperbole here with much amusement - it's your turn now.) I found Kearns and Kafer so bad in the commentary that I switched to listen to those awful English commentators. I actually learned a few of the English names too, that the Aussie Fox Sports blokes never bothered mentioning.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Struth, Pothale - you were busier than a one legged man in a bum kicking competition with your updates tonight. I was flat out watching just one game. Well done.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Well... That was an enjoyable afternoon. A shame for Australia that the referee lost them the game... I said a few days ago this scrum issue was a red herring. It's an Australian mental problem that manifests itself whenever England appear. England want to play rugby that is based on width, off-loading and pace. We did that today, and I hope a few stereotypes are put to bed. A good game, cheers Australia and cheers to all mature Australian Roarers - one of the better Test matches in a while. End to end stuff. Can't wait for Scotland v NZ now.
Red Rooster
Guest
There goes the "undefeated tour" the Wallabies were talking about, just like last years "Grand Slam" slip up. A record score for England against Australia which can be added to the one the Boks and Blacks also established on the current coaching watch Now for the Pro Deans Lobby - what is this weeks excuses?? Please select from the list below No Cattle Fwds No Good Backs can't tackle We are "building" Can't even blame the scrum as there we few and none of them had an outcome apart from FK/penalty Goal Kicking Weather Afternoon game England ran the ball instead of kicking it England tackled too hard and were more enthusiastic Aberration Referee Our Team is inexperienced (so are the Poms) Off day The Coach is a genius and its part of the fabled "grand plan" that only requires us to win the RWC Jetlag from the 3 hr bus trip from Wales Midweek game was a distraction (although it was insisted upon as part of the grand plan) etc etc By the way - Well done England you beat us at our own game twice in a row which is food for thought
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Not so hard for Carter, Cruden, Steyne, Stein ....
Pothale
Guest
Italy give way to Argentina 16-22 at the final whistle. Next up France v Fiji. Looking forward this one. Congrats to England, Ireland, Argentina and South Africa. Hard luck to Wales and Samoa. No surprise that Kahn Futahli was named man of the match. Roll on Fiji.
woodster
Guest
I really enjoyed the english commentary they called hape happy and described quade as the 'matador' lol. which was true he was letting the bulls go right through him.