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Wallabies lose Genia, scans clear Coleman

The Wallabies have a lot of thinking to do in the off season. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)
17th June, 2018
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The Wallabies will be without halfback general Will Genia for their Test series decider against Ireland but at least have some good news on lineout general Adam Coleman.

While Genia was undergoing surgery on a broken arm on Sunday in the wake of Saturday night’s 26-21 second Test loss in Melbourne, scans have cleared Coleman of a fractured cheekbone ahead of the third Test in Sydney on Saturday.

Genia suffered his injury in a incident that drew the ire of Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who claimed he had been “king-hit” off the ball by Irish prop Ciran Healy.

“We ran the play round the front and Will is the decoy around the back and he got king-hit from the side, it looked like a shoulder, and when you’re not expecting it that’s what happened,” Cheika said after the match.

Genia is expected to be sidelined until at least the Rugby Championship starting in August.

The Australians didn’t put the Genia incident forward for citing consideration but that doesn’t mean it won’t be looked at by independent citing commissioner Kiwi Michael O’Leary, who has 48 hours to do so.

Coleman went down to friendly fire, his head connecting with that of teammate Israel Folau in the second minute of the second half and he was replaced as large swelling appeared above his cheek bone.

Six Nations champions Ireland showed why they are ranked No.2 in the world as they fielded a full-strength team after resting several key players from the first Test.

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They dominated the contest, including the battle of the breakdown and fed off an ill-disciplined display by the Wallabies, who conceded 15 penalties and, at times, appeared over-eager to make the big play.

Despite the small winning margin, Ireland dominated most facets of the game as they starved the home side of ball.

Cheika said his team also neededd to improve their kicking game, whi9h was wayward and ineffectual after proving so useful in the first Test.

Ireland also did very well to isolate Wallabies danger man Folau, who was a match-winner in game one.

“I don’t know if we played good enough to go two nil up,” Cheika said.

“I know we scored three tries to two but I just think we need to trust our systems a bit better.

“We gave away some 50:50s and we shouldn’t have that doubt and that will be a work-on for next week.

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“We need to do what we do and the rest will turn out right because when we do do it, on defence or on attack, it’s pretty good.”

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