Wallabies lock Sitaleki Timani will almost certainly miss the entire British and Irish Lions series after it was confirmed he’ll require surgery on a broken thumb.
Timani picked up the injury during the Waratahs’ 23-22 Super Rugby defeat to the Crusaders in Christchurch last Friday night.
He saw a specialist on Monday and a team official later said the Tongan-born second-rower, who has played 10 Tests for the Wallabies, was expected to be sidelined for the three-match series.
Timani will undergo surgery on Tuesday and it’s hoped he’ll be available for the Rugby Championship from August.
Rebels backrower Scott Higginbotham was another member of the original 25-man Wallabies squad to be in serious doubt for the start of the Lions series after dislocating his shoulder against the Queensland Reds on Saturday night.
Higginbotham flew to Brisbane after having a scan on Monday and his injury will be reassessed over the next couple of days.
Forwards Wycliff Palu, Dave Dennis and James Slipper as well as winger Nick Cummins didn’t train on Monday because of minor niggles.
Kurtley Beale trained with the team but wore different gear as he is not part of the official squad.
Nick Phipps, who along with Waratahs lock Kane Douglas and Western Force loose forward Ben McCalman, was added to the squad on Sunday, said he was shocked and pleasantly surprised to get a call-up.
But his promotion has also opened a door of opportunity for rival halfback Luke Burgess.
With Phipps unavailable, the Rebels can now give 2014 signing Luke Burgess a run off the bench in Friday’s clash with Australian Super rugby conference leaders the Brumbies in Canberra.
Burgess, who has just returned from a two-year stint in France, could line up directly at some stage on Brumbies halfback Nic White, another contender for a Wallaby squad spot.
Uncapped White will train with the Wallabies on Tuesday when he has a day off from the Canberra-based franchise.
Burgess will have the chance to stake his claim in front of national coach Robbie Deans, who will attend Friday’s game.
Burgess was keen to add to his 37 Test caps and have a crack at the British and Irish Lions.
“Everyone should be jumping on the back of this opportunity, once in every 12 years to play the Lions,” Burgess said.
“You can’t miss those opportunities in your career. For me it’s just a massive carrot.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Joe Schmidt says he wants Carter Gordon to stay in Australian rugby, but the new Wallabies coach won’t shed tears if he decides to…
Darren Coleman is set to continue his back three changes, with Max Jorgensen to miss the Waratahs’ tricky assignment at the Cake Tin in…
Australian rugby has many problems - financial crisis, ever-shrinking audiences, shortage of coaching expertise, Greg Martin, etc etc. But one problem which I have…
Eight months after sensationally being taken to France by Eddie Jones as the Wallabies’ specialist fly-half for their World Cup campaign, Carter Gordon could…
The Wallabies’ midfield stocks could be about to go from bad to worse, with Hunter Paisami eyeing up a move to the English Premiership.…
Rugby Australia (RA) has just released its 2023 Annual Report, posting a $9 million loss and revealing an equity of negative $13 million. Back…
