Wallabies halfback Nic White is out of next month’s Test series against France, while fellow veterans Matt Toomua and James O’Connor are also battling injuries, potentially robbing the side of almost 150 Test caps.
White has returned home to Canberra after suffering a MCL injury at training during their Gold Coast camp, and Toomua is already there with his injury being checked by Rugby Australia’s chief medical officer, Warren McDonald.
Toomua is expected to rejoin the squad on Sunday with the Wallabies hopeful the playmaker will be available for the first Test on July 7.
O’Connor, who has carried the injury from Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, is being managed through training but the five-eighth is expected to play.
With White out, Queensland’s Tate McDermott is now set for his first Test start after two matches off the bench, while Brumbies No.9 Ryan Lonergan is likely to make his debut.
Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon is in camp but is also recovering from a MCL injury and remains an outside chance of being available.
White doesn’t require surgery and medical staff are hopeful he will be in the frame for the Bledisloe Cup with the first match on August 7 in Auckland.
It comes as Rugby Australia push ahead with plans to play the opening match of the three Test series against France at the SCG despite the COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney.
The 42-man French squad arrived in Sydney on Tuesday night and underwent COVID-19 tests on Wednesday.
Les Bleus will be quarantined in their hotel for the next fortnight though they will be allowed out to train ahead of the July 7 Test at the SCG.
The teams are playing a condensed series with three Tests in 11 days, the second at Melbourne’s AAMI Park on July 13 followed by the third at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on July 17.
The second Test looked to be in most doubt, with Melbourne in lockdown for two weeks after a rise COVID-19 cases, but that has eased with crowds welcomed back to sporting events this weekend.
There were questions about whether that game would be shifted to Canberra, which could now be an option for the Sydney match should the pandemic continue to worsen on the eastern seabelt.
Queensland and Victoria have closed their borders to NSW residents from hotspot areas in the eastern suburbs and central Sydney.
RA chief executive Andy Marinos said they remained hopeful the matches would be played as scheduled.
“Appreciating that we continue to operate in a dynamic environment with COVID-19 impacts, we are moving ahead with our plans to host these matches as planned, subject to any further
advice from our state government partners,” Marinos said in a statement.
“We are now just two weeks away from the start of the series which kicks off with the Wallabies’ first match at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground in 35 years.
“I want to thank (president) Bernard Laporte, (coach) Fabian Gautier and the FFR (French Rugby Federation) for their partnership in ensuring this series could go ahead.
“It has been a mammoth effort by all involved.”
CW Moss
Roar Rookie
I suspect not. I went to UNSW in 1968 :happy:
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
They made themselves unavailable.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Markus, will be surprised if JOC is the #1 choice in 2023. Our 10 stocks are improving and I think he will not be needed 2 years from now.
Rugby wizard
Guest
It also allows you to build depth in certain positions. Why did it take so long for Philip to get a test cap? Coterill who in 2017 under Wessels at the Force in my view was the best backrower in the country,never got a test cap. They say players chase big bucks,but maybe it's because of a coaches failure to reward good performances. WAS IT REALLY NECESSARY FOR HOOPER TO PLAY EVERY TEST 2016-2019. It's okay if Hooper is our best 7,but if you playing 15 test matches a year why could maybe a Liam Gill not get 3 starts. Wells in the squad is a positive and it shows a change in the selection policy since Cheika,but give the guy 3 starts this year,NOT 1.
Rugby wizard
Guest
He is doing it by choice,he could have selected players from the losing teams in the top 14 semi finals,but many are not in the squad. Fickou,Jalibert,Vakatawa and le Roux to name a few. This French squad is basically the same as picking a squad from the weakest SA super rugby side and filling it with players that are not good enough to be in the matchday squad of the 4 best teams in the country.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
I didn't see the schoolboys and didn't know that. Ta.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
However Bobby, I feel that the NH use southern tours almost as a blooding opportunity for the potential players whilst considering only the 6 N as “real” tests. All other games are preparation for the WC. Like you, I believe that Test rugby should be reward to the nations’ best players.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
G’day HiKa. Do you remember a few years earlier when JW toured with the England Schoolboys? Maybe not. He was their second choice 10 on that tour.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Wed.7th - Sydney; Tues.13th - Melbourne; Sat.17th - Brisbane. Fingers crossed that all matches go ahead as planned.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Here we go :stoked: I can't believe people can say this seriously..
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Surprising poor pass for "once in a generation" scrumhalf. Aaron Smith is a once in a generation scrumhalf. The difference is stark.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I hadn't realised it was mid-week. Makes a bit of sense then.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
I remember England sending a young development squad on a tour in 1998. They got the biggest hiding in the history of England test rugby at Lang Park. 76-0. The Wallabies team was pretty much the team that went on to win RWC99. The young England 10 ended up doing alright though. But always remember, Jonny Wilkinson's first test in Australia was a 76-0 drubbing.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Jez, I had read that a big factor in choosing the SCG for this mid-week test was to (hopefully) get a good number of CBD workers to drop into the ground after work. Certainly poor choice if for a Saturday match. We'll see how they go attracting a mid-week crowd.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Rubbish !
Bobby
Roar Rookie
The WC is great and only comes every 4 years. Generally we play 12 -15 Tests each year. Every Test match is important. I like my team competing EACH game and don't like waiting for the 4th year. Nothing wrong with an eye on the WC but pick the best players for every Test. It's ridiculous to do otherwise.
Locklanus Sprungthorpus
Guest
Lucky you aren`t Rennies co selector then. Powell ? pffft if he was anygood Rennie would have picked him already. :thumbdown:
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Galthie isn't doing it by choice
Matt
Guest
" I think what Galthie is doing is what Cheika should have done in 2016/2017. " Absoluley spot on, and look how bad the Wallabies were in 2016 2017. Hanging onto players who had long past there use by date cost the Clown his coaching gig. The Wallabies are still recovering from Clowns cataclysmic legacy. The 2016-2019 Wallabies were the worst skilled team i have ever seen.
Im hearing one of the PI sides are very keen on Kalani. Is he Fijian?