Wallabies player Adam Ashleigh-Cooper crosses over to score during the IRB Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Australia and USA at Wellington (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Rob Horne’s Rugby World Cup is all but over and Pat McCabe’s could be too after Australia’s crippling injury toll rose to desperate levels during Friday night’s 67-5 thrashing of the USA in Wellington.
Horne fractured his cheekbone, McCabe dislocated his shoulder, fellow centre Anthony Faingaa was knocked out cold and fullback Kurtley Beale and backrower Wycliff Palu complained of hamstring tightness on a costly night for the Tri Nations champions.
The quintet join a casualty ward already featuring wingers James O’Connor (hamstring) and Digby Ioane (thumb) plus flankers David Pocock (back) and Scott Higginbotham (back).
Concerned coach Robbie Deans said with such an “extensive list” of wounded stars, particularly backs, the Wallabies may well have to draft in reinforcements from Australia.
The only positive for the Wallabies – apart from the 11-try rout and an impressive return to the Test arena of classy midfielder Berrick Barnes – was that their next game is against lowly Russia on Saturday week.
“Yes we may have to (call in replacements). We’ll wait to see what the medics say before we make any decision,” Deans said.
But with Faingaa’s concussion carrying a mandatory two or three-week rest under IRB rules, Deans may have no choice but to send an SOS – possibly to 92-Test veteran Matt Giteau.
Captain Will Genia said the next few days would be critical as the injuries are assessed.
“We had a fair few,” Genia said.
“We saw big Radike (Samo playing) on the wing there and he got a try, but we’ll go away and assess and go from there.”
With Wallabies dropping like flies, the siren couldn’t sound quick enough.
Alas, Faingaa required several minutes of attention and medicab removal from Wellington’s Cake Tin after copping knee in the head in a tackle gone wrong in the dying stages.
Beale once again was Australia’s most potent attacker before trudging off in the 38th minute, more as a precautionary measure than for any serious problem.
His departure allowed Deans to introduce Barnes for his first Test of the year after he missed the closing stages of the Super Rugby season following a series of head knocks.
Slotting into five-eighth, with Quade Cooper pushing back to fullback, Barnes excelled as the Wallabies piled on seven tries after the break.
Australia had made a nervous start.
Even quickfire tries in the eighth and 11th minutes to Horne and Rocky Elsom failed to settle the Wallabies as the American underdogs hit back in the 23rd minute with a soft five-pointer to No.8 JJ Gagiano to reduce Australia’s lead to 10-5.
But Beale and Faingaa crossed to make it 22-5 at the interval.
Winger Drew Mitchell and McCabe, with virtually his first touch of the ball, joined the tryscorers’ list before man-of-the-match Ashley-Cooper crossed three times between the 59th and 66th minutes to blow the score out.
Samo seagulled for Australia’s final try two minutes from time.
After last Saturday’s shock 15-6 loss to Ireland, the bonus-point victory at least put the Wallabies closer to qualification for the knockout stages.
They only need to account for Russia in Nelson to book a quarter-final berth.
Barring upsets in the remaining few pool games, Australia will face defending champions South Africa in Wellington on October 9 – almost certainly for the right to take on the All Blacks in the semi-finals.
mattamkII
Guest
why people keep up with this..''look at this score line compared to that score line'' and ''factor in the 2nd string nature of the side''..... Its all childish rubbish. Here we are, at the world cup. What better way to tell a teams worth than waiting for the final results in a few weeks rather than trying to make silly links.
mattamkII
Guest
"Did someone whisper the name Giteau?……. someone has to replace Horne and who better? If anyone suggests tapuai I will lose my nut….." ummm...anyone but Gits. We need someone to straighten the attacking lines. Mortlock isn't that stupid of a suggestion
mattamkII
Guest
OJ - I can. Have you seen McCalpin trying to position his body to pilfer? its like watching a new born Giraffe trying to eat some hay in 150km hour winds.
mattamkII
Guest
gold
mattamkII
Guest
go away
Ben W
Guest
I think we are forgetting Al Baxter. His 'Blue Steel' face can potentially throw the opposing forwards of their game as they cannot stop laughing. Just throwing some ideas out there!
Adam
Guest
If we have to play New Zealand in another WC semi final I would love to see ole sterling break their hearts again.
Ben W
Guest
Palu has issues with his hamstrings due to his high salt intake. He has admitted to eating KFC and McDonalds daily. Robbie Deans needs to put him on a very strict low salt diet if those hamstring troubles are going to go away. Horwill is often seen dining with Palu and I can only assume that he may have a similiar issue. At the very least the boys should drop the fries and just eat the burgers. That will help.
Ben W
Guest
My team would be 1. Noriaga 2. Tom Lawton 3. Budda Handy 4. Sharpy 5. Horwill 6. Elsom 7. Waugh 8. Samo 9. Genia 10. Barnes 11. Ionie 12. Mitchell 13. Mortlock 14. Sailor 15. Billy Slater
Katipo
Guest
Sterling Mortlock to the rescue?
kiwidave
Guest
The term is Makutu, and I'm sure plenty have been trying/
Uncle Argyle
Guest
Two need to go home; HORNE - cheekbone, McCABE shoulder Possibly A. FAINGAA W. PALU I would bring over Luke Morahan who can play 11,13,14,15 & Beau Robinson as a back up 7.
Osama bin Lockie
Guest
But when it counts?
Uncle Argyle
Guest
Does Frank Bunce know?
Sprigs
Guest
Hope some key Kiwis can get bird flu to balance things out. Springboks, what can they get. Maybe eaten by the lions?
Sprigs
Guest
Sorry to have missed Todd Clever, though.
mace22
Guest
The backline looked better because as i've said you played a secound string secound tier team. This is as bad as saying sonny bill is a great wing because of what he did against japan. The wallaby back line would have gone the same if barnes wasn't there, remember it was the usa.
mace22
Guest
Mark my grandmother would look good at full back playing a secound string US team.
mace22
Guest
Right on mario but who said australia is the best attacking team. Really the only ones saying this is you and the australians.
Rugby Diehard
Guest
Johnno - he always plays full-back in defence anyway, not really sure what difference it would make if he played with a 10 or 15 printed on the back of his jersey.