The Wallabies have suffered a cruel injury blow with Reece Hodge ruled out of the spring tour after fracturing an ankle.
Coach Michael Cheika revealed the setback after the Wallabies arrived in Japan on Sunday ahead of Saturday’s third Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks in Yokohama.
Utility back Hodge, who has played all nine of Australia’s Tests so far in 2018, is expected to be off his feet for at least two months, with Cheika yet to decide on a replacement for the four-match tour.
Prop Angus Cottrell is also out of Bledisloe selection contention after straining a medial ligament, but he will remain with the squad and is expected to be available for the European Tests against Wales, Italy and England.
Hodge also suffered his injury in training and will fly straight home, leaving Cheika desperately short of proven outside centres as the Wallabies strive to finish what has been an otherwise disappointing year on a high.
Hodge has worn the gold No.13 jumper in Australia’s past six Tests in the absence of injured specialists Tevita Kuridrani and Samu Kerevi, who only made his comeback from a biceps tear during Saturday’s Byron Bay Sevens.
Kerevi will join the touring squad in Japan and may be forced into an international return at least via the bench against the All Blacks.
“He got two (sevens) games under his belt. He’s on his way up here, he’s had a good block of training and, yes, he’ll be a little bit underdone but he’s got a lot of experience as well,” Cheika said.
“So we’ll try and build him up as the tour goes on and we’ll decide once he arrives and when he gets on the training paddock whether or not he’s in condition to at least play some part this week.”
Israel Folau and Jack Maddocks appear to be Cheika’s most obvious options to replace Hodge in the centres for the All Blacks showdown, while a shock recall for veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper at some point during the tour is not out of the question.
The Japan-based Ashley-Cooper is hoping to return to Australia for the 2019 Super Rugby season in a late bid for inclusion in a fourth World Cup campaign next year and is on Cheika’s radar.
glider
Guest
folau is picked at centre as the "Saviour" ...........what more can we say
glider
Guest
you are 100% right - folau now the replacement at centre for hodge
Ethan
Guest
It's a big loss. Hodge was playing quite well, and there's no one of any experience or test match capability in the position to come in against the best team in the world. It will never happen, but if there was ever a time to try switching Hooper there...
ForwardsWinMatches
Guest
You’re right. Too many players in correct positions.
riddler
Roar Rookie
hold my hand up and say that i haven't seen enough rebels game to give a fair view of english.. just a gut (large one) feel that he isn't up to it.. maddocks isn't test standard in my opinion. a fair way off.. i would have banks over dhp which is possibly an anti roar sentiment but i am not seeing all the love he gets.. like hodge for me, a good utility player, on the bench.. only one of them though..
riddler
Roar Rookie
koroibete generally dies with the ball.. either by going away from his support or throwing a hail mary when tackled.. things, once again, that should be highlighted in the monday vid session and then worked on during the week.. also would love to see if the outside backs are ever training running with the ball in two hands.. just so that we have that option.. it seems to me our outside backs get the ball and almost immediately it is placed under one arm and off they go.. creating a simplified defence target for the oppo.
riddler
Roar Rookie
ken... how to ruin the start of my work week!! i will get you back!! ;)
riddler
Roar Rookie
do you like to wear blue by any chance?
MitchO
Guest
Cheers Jez, so English should be fit enough and he's played a fair bit of 13. Be nice if he gets a shot. I like Bill Meakes but don't think he is test match standard. Close in terms of honesty and guts but not quite. No shame in that. English may be with a few good players around him. Hope Gus Cottrell's knee is okay.
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
I'd have either Meakes or English over AAC, Rona or putting Folau in at #13. The trouble is Meakes hasn't lit up the NRC; and if you can't showcase your talent at the 3rd tier, do you really deserve a shot at test level? English is the leading try scorer at the NRC, which should count for something, with Jordan Petaia just behind him, and he should be a bolter for the EOYT (especially with the centres going down with injuries).
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
We all know Cheika's penchant for picking players out of position, but: "Prop Angus Cottrell is also out of Bledisloe selection contention after straining a medial ligament"! I love Cottrell's work-rate and desire to give his all for the team, but at ~105 kg, I don't think he should be playing prop at anything other than 7s. No wonder he's strained a ligament! (Seriously, hope he does make the EOTY, he's a great player who's suffered from injuries at unfortunate moments which have held back his international recognition.)
ZADO
Guest
Don't forget he cut the careers short by not selecting discarded benched or dropped these players Quade, Mcmahon Frisby, Barnes, Fardy, Slipper, Horwill ,Mike Harris, Anthony Faiinga, Saia Faiingaa, Higignbotham, Nic White, Carter, Sio, AAA, Hardwick and Speight .The bloke is a deadset goose.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
SMI, it is not "appears". The correct word "is". Om that there is no question - 3 Nil!!
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Makes a lot of sense Peter
jeznez
Roar Guru
He's been playing NRC, MitchO - October 7 was his most recent match.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
To clarify, my comment regards the positive consensus around Jordan Petaia. He seems to play with a maturity beyond his years. Brilliant game for Country yesterday. Here’s one to test the friendship Riddler: I wonder how Jordan would look on the burst at the end of a Quade long pass? ????
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Add me to the list too Fionn. There you go Riddler. We can all be friends????
MitchO
Guest
Meeks played 13 at Gloucester. He'd be okay but I think English is a better 13. English is okay and he's had experience there. I say give him a chance and see what happens with some good players around him. Pick a man in his position. No makeshift 13s please. But is English going to be sharper than Kerevi? Surely English hasn't had a run for a while.
Doug
Guest
“He got two (sevens) games under his belt. He’s on his way up here, he’s had a good block of training and, yes, he’ll be a little bit underdone but he’s got a lot of experience as well,” Cheika said. Can you even believe Cheika the Clown is even considering Kerevi. He is a 12 anyway and has not played any meaningful rugby for many many many months.
Keo
Guest
Don't bring in CFS, Cheika will ruin his comeback from a 2 year injury layoff.