The Spring Tour of Wallabies rookie Adam Coleman hangs in the balance after the lineout general suffered a potentially serious knee injury in the last-ditch win over Scotland.
All the wash-up from Scotland vs Wallabies:
» Match report: Wallabies produce great escape
» Five talking points from the match
» What changes should the Wallabies make?
» Vote on our DIY player ratings
» Re-live all the action with our live blog
Coleman crumpled to the ground five minutes into Saturday’s (Sunday AEDT) victory when a ruck collapsed around him and he copped a bump to his left knee.
The 25-year-old, who was immediately forced from the field, suffered medial ligament damage in the incident and underwent scans in Edinburgh on Saturday night after the match.
He will travel with the team to Paris on Sunday and coach Michael Cheika and the team expect to know by Monday whether Coleman’s tour is over.
“He’ll go and get some pictures now and then we’ll see what that presents for him, whether he can stay on or whether he’ll have to go home,” Cheika said.
Should Coleman’s injury be serious, it will be a heavy blow to the Wallabies’ grand slam ambitions.
Despite Saturday’s win over Scotland being just his ninth Test, Coleman has quickly become an integral part of Cheika’s plans – taking on board the lineout calling duties and forming a brilliant young locking combination with fellow rookie Rory Arnold.
There were some wobbles with the Wallabies’ lineout after Coleman’s exit on Saturday – but captain and hooker Stephen Moore said he was pleased with the performance of the experienced Rob Simmons, who played 75 minutes after coming off the bench, took over the lineout calling and will likely step into the starting team if Coleman is unavailable.
“I thought Simmo did well when he came on and he played pretty much played the full game there which is always when you come on really early in the game,” Moore said.
“Unfortunately Adam went off so that’s a big effort.”
cuw
Guest
http://www.planetrugby.com/news/coleman-ruled-out-of-wallabies-tour/ Wallabies lock Adam Coleman will be heading home from their end-of-year tour, after confirmation of a medial ligament strain.
Timbo (L)
Guest
Assuming Coleman is out I expect Cheika will replace like for Like. Will Skelton, A cool headed Giant that is a great line out jumper, mobile enough to get to breakdowns and has great ball skills. No, Wait, I mean Kane Douglas. Skelton has none of those traits, his only value is his blue Tah's Jersey which seems to be all you need to gain Wallaby selection .
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Good question Tags.Though i would doubt that Coleman's injury was avoidable. The ruck put lateral pressure on the joint. I dont expect him back this year. Douglas was capable of a Colemanesque game once upon a time. We just need someone like the big boy to allow the team to regain and maintain its shape (the shape we saw against NZ and Wales).
30mm tags
Guest
Coleman is a key member of the Wallabies and it'd be interesting to hear from a Physio why strapping of knees is not automatic. Peter Dornan a former Wallabies photo in the 70s was a great believer in strapping the ankles to resist lateral forces . My recollection was that the incidence of ankle injury plummeted once that became standard. Knees are subject to massive lateral forces. Let's hear from the Physios .