DUBLIN – The Wallabies’ worst fears have been realised, with Taniela Tupou in huge doubt for next year’s World Cup after rupturing his Achilles.
Tupou was one of five players forced off during the Wallabies’ agonising 13-10 defeat to Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.
The wrecking-ball prop was joined on the sidelines by Hunter Paisami (MCL), Andrew Kellaway (fractured foot), Dave Porecki (concussion) and Rob Valetini (syndesmosis) as the Wallabies’ year from hell continued.
All five players, as well as Nic White (mandatory stand down after being ruled a criteria one concussion risk), will miss the Wallabies’ season finale against Wales, where Dave Rennie’s must win or risk going down as the first Australian team to lose 10 Tests in a year.
Rennie said the incredible injury toll, which has been a constant throughout the year, was down to “bad luck”.
“The medics are going to be busy,” Rennie said following the three-point loss to the world No.1 nation.
“[It is] bad luck. It’s a collision sport and a number of those were from collisions. We’re still assessing things.”
By Monday, the Wallabies were coming to grips with their torrid injury toll, including the unexpected withdrawal of White.
White, who told reporters in Dublin that he hoped to take the field at the Principality Stadium, was ruled out in curious circumstances.
(Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
The halfback was involved in two separate incidents where it appeared he suffered blows to his head.
After medical officials were reviewing footage of the first incident, where White attempted to tackle Mack Hansen into touch, the halfback suffered another knock to the head as he ran the ball back into the defence shortly after.
That led to the Wallabies’ medic calling for a Head Injury Assessment under the criteria two ruling, where diagnosis was not immediately apparent.
Under the level two criteria, White passed the HIA and was therefore eligible to return to the field. The decision was slammed by social media, including lobby group Progressive Rugby, who questioned whether the HIA protocol was “fit for the purpose of properly protecting players”.
However, upon review, the match day doctor elevated the HIA to a criteria one assessment (balance disturbance/ataxia) and must therefore have a 12-day sit down period.
A Rugby Australia spokeperson said White had not experienced any concussion symptoms the morning after the match.
Tupou left the squad the day after their loss and will be operated back in Australia.
The rest of the injured brigade will leave over the coming days, with Wallabies officials scrambling to find flights home at this late hour.
With French-based lock Will Skelton and Japanese-based playmaker Bernard Foley unavailable for the Test because the match is being played outside the international window, Rennie has previous few players to turn to now. It’s understood he will turn to within rather than draft in any player from the outside.
It means the Wallabies’ fringe players, who were afforded opportunities against Italy, will be given another chance to rectify the shock defeat.
In particular, Reece Hodge looks set to return to the midfield.
Hodge started against Wales at inside centre in 2016 but hasn’t been viewed as a midfield option since Rennie took the reins in 2020.
Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson and Jock Campbell will all likely come onto the match day squad.
Matt Gibbon, Sam Talakai, Darcy Swain, Ned Hanigan, Fraser McReight and Langi Gleeson will compete for three spots.
Meanwhile, Tupou now faces a long road back to have any chance at competing at next year’s World Cup.
While playmaker Quade Cooper is hoping to be back playing by May after rupturing his Achilles against Argentina in August, the recovery time of the tight-head prop is expected to be much longer.
It’s understood Tupou has yet to re-sign with Rugby Australia, but the governing body has decisions to make regarding his future because the prop was eyeing a sabbatical following the World Cup. Now he will miss the entire Super Rugby season.
More scrutiny is bound to come onto Rennie about the Wallabies’ training methods and their strength and conditioning program.
Tupou is the fourth Wallaby to suffer a ruptured Achilles following Harry Johnson-Holmes, Cooper and Rebels forward Rob Leota.
As one current Super Rugby official said earlier in the year following Leota’s injury, “I’ve hardly ever seen one Achilles in my career let alone three in one year”.
SlytheeTove
Roar Rookie
Agree. In every problem position: 2, 12, 15 we have some reasonable options and its about getting them on the park. For 10, we have no frickin clue after QC. NL is not the answer, he is just not a natural. Regardless of result, I would rather see if BD has something to offer. Results aside, we’ve had 5 tests to identify another option for 10. Imagine at the end of this tour that we still can’t answer the question “can BD offer more than NL?”. Losing to Wales would be a shame, but not getting answer to that question would be gross negligence.
Atlas
Roar Rookie
From WalesOnlineRugby: "That is perhaps why Australia, even when they limp into Cardiff with the cast of Neighbours and whoever is left, will still pose more than a little threat in the Welsh capital." A call-out for Kylie?
jameswm
Roar Guru
Why are you sure about that?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Yes WL, and Marika is not made of granite (shoot, he is actually) but even rock may crack- so it is good to know that we have a willing late model revving in the pits ready to rip in.
Beefa
Roar Rookie
Agree to disagree. Gordon has a poor passing game left and right and his " supposedly' crisp quicker pass is of no benefit if he arrives to the ruck late. Didn`t see you comment on his poor discipline, but you are ok with that im sure.
Beefa
Roar Rookie
I bet you Gordon starts. Tate will get 10 from the bench.Rennie wants to prove to everybody that Gordon is the second best scrumhalf in Australia,
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Yes Jez, fingers crossed. And if your hunch is correct, who knows what’s in store?
Qualify
Guest
"Forced DR to mix/max players" uhhhhm, which new players did he test?
Qualify
Guest
Agreed!! Perfect opportunity to try new players and combinations. Just a pitty he picked the wrong players and when the L's came he abandoned ship and settled for comfort. Gordon over Tate, 5 minute Donaldson, Henigan!!! and benching Skelton are prime examples. Bloody rubbish!
Qualify
Guest
You are gaslighting and seriously stretching your creativity. Gordon IS NOT better than Tate, who is available but simply not picked. And all this whining about his passing - I'd rather pick someone who gets the pill out fast than someone who takes his sweet bloody time (Foley's gonna drop it or through a wayward pass anyway). To say he can't pick other players because they aren't better is rubbish. We're losing with the so-called better players, so might as well try someone new. FF, Gordon, Robinson are not up to scratch and have proved this much time and again. I'll even add NL and Henigan to the mix. DR clearly has favorites and they are not repaying his faith. And this is isn't anything new. These players have been repeat offenders for some time now.
Happy Scrappy Hero Pup
Roar Rookie
You forgot Chieka...he was excellent at managing up...oh wait...
Gutterboy
Roar Rookie
PO !! :laughing:
jameswm
Roar Guru
You do realise, we only have 2 half backs left in the squad? Gordon has to be be at 9 or 21. He has delivered crisp passes to both sides. Tate can't pass to his right very well. Not good for a test player. He doesn't have a great kick for a 9. Otherwise he's pretty good. But he needs to sort out those 2 crucial issues. Gordon is far from perfect too and I'd consider playing Lonergan ahead of either of them if he was there - but he's not.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Having read thrpugh thos thread, I think you hace a very simplustic approach without real facts or understanding of the issues facing being a coach in Australoan rugby. Saying that because Deans is coa hing in Japan suggests he is not an international coach is a typical of the opinions ypu are pushing. But there is absolutely no depth to the comment. To peoperly understand and debate the issue you have to delve below the surface, rather than just observations which are really just generic statements looking for a home. Your opinion would carry more weight if ypu coyld sgare your observations with respect to how to manage up and the playersand deliver at Wallaby level. Talking about Rod McQueen is a bit of a furphy as is thinking that Ted could dig the Wallabies out of the hole. They are merely hypotheticals worh very little in thecway of substance, because you never once mention the challenges and how they can be overcome. For example not a si gle cosch in the last 15 years has been able to beat the system. Deans did best in the thankless task as he pushed for and got a donestic competition moving. But all the polotics and player power issues are tied together. Quade had Ewen n his corner undermining the team, then Ewen got in. His behaviour left a lot to be desired.. so hardly soneone to instill discuplne. Eventually he fell on his sword. The. came Chieka. Not a brilliant era and one besy forgotten, but look at how the Argies are going under his watch. Now we have DR. Rather than applying typical dumbed down rhetoric, I"d genuinely be interested in how you think the issues and chalkenges identofied by Bluesfan can be met. Sayi g he should manage all levels and he is a second rate coach doesnt cut it. While its not a toxic environment for a coach its not far off. Fi ally while I dont agree with everythi g David Nucifora says, i thiink rugby in Aistralia does need to be centralised and rhis siggestion that DR doesnt work with SR coaches is another example of total nonsense. Me personslly, i think his requires a total review and relook of all systems
Beefa
Roar Rookie
What has Gordon done for the Wallabies ? All i have seen from him is being slow to the breakdown or not even showing up, poor passing to his runners , penalties conceded and a yellow card for foul play. Why does he deserve yet another chance? And i don`t get why you are so anti Tate, i see it all the time from you, or are you just so pro Gordon you automatically dislike Tate. You also want to give a pure rookie Gleeson a free ride into the starting 23 but not Tate ?
Revok
Roar Rookie
Gordon will be starting scrumhalf. Rennie loves Jakey boy.
Revok
Roar Rookie
Jake Gordon doesn`t deserve another start. You got that one wrong.
Revok
Roar Rookie
Tom Robertson ? The fella who catches the ball then drops to ground submissively immediately ? oh dear. :crying:
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Gleason at 8, Holloway at 6, Hooper at 7, Samu and Hanigan (Swain) on the bench. That's only one change to the backrow so more cohesion and less moving parts, just a straight Val/Gleason swap.
Geoff
Guest
How soon you forget. The Tahs didn`t win a game in 2021 and still had more players in Rennies Wallaby 2021 squad than Reds. :shocked: Reds won the comp in 2021. It pays handsomely if you wear SKY BLUE. And look how bad the Wallabies are with all those tahs. Ranked 9TH All these tahs are losers Hanigan Holloway Swinton Porecki Hooper Gordon Foketi Mark N Perese Bell Foley Beale Robertson Skelton LOL. :laughing: If the tahs cant beat the Reds in the last 3 years of super rugby :shocked: , they sure aren`t going to beat the All Blacks Irish Argies " ITALY" :shocked: England France SA etc etc :laughing: I also blame Tupou for the 9th ranking :laughing: