Wallabies star Allan Alaalatoa is out of the World Cup after sufferng a ruptured Achilles in Saturday night’s loss to the All Blacks in Melbourne.
Alaalatoa was taken from the field on a medicab bearing the best wishes of teammates who realised the Brumbies skipper’s World Cup dream had been shattered by the injury suffered against the All Blacks.
“I think that’s a fairly serious injury,” admitted coach Eddie Jones afterwards, confirming it was likely an Achilles tendon injury.
That fear was confirmed on Sunday with the Wallabies confirming Alaalatoa would have surgery on a “ruptured Achilles”. The timeline for such an injury is usually around nine months to recovery – with Taniela Tupou and Quade Cooper both suffering a similar fate last year.
Tom Lambert and Zane Nonggorr were called into the Wallabies squad following the injuries to Alaalatoa and Tupou, who succumbed to a rib injury in the 38-7 loss.
There was some good news though on the Tupou front – he has travel with the team to New Zealand to continue training with the squad – a sign that even if he misses out next weekend his World Cup campaign is still on course.
Jones also had an alarming update on Michael Hooper’s calf injury saying the co-captain would not be able to lay in next week’s return Bledisloe match in Dunedin and his World Cup is in some doubt.
“I’m saying that he’s got a serious injury,” said Jones. “And when you’ve got a serious injury there are deadlines and we need to find out the deadline. When you’ve got a calf injury, sometimes you don’t know how quickly it can recover.”
Tupou sent further shockwaves through the Australian camp when he stayed down injured for an extended period early in the second half before soldiering on briefly. He was, however, clearly in pain, grabbing at his side.
Stan expert Morgan Turinui speculated that Tupou had suffered a rib cartilage injury or broken rib. He left the field on 57 minutes but just after he departed he was yellow carded for a high tackle – his replacement Angus Bell – had to leave the field and Tupou was forced to sit on the naughty chair.
Tupou was laughing with fans after the game.
Earlier, Alaalatoa was crushed by the All Blacks pack when he got caught under a disintegrating scrum in the 37th minute at the MCG.
Allan Alaalatoa of the Wallabies comes off the ground with an injury. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
The prop was in clear pain as he grabbed his left knee. After a lengthy delay he was taken off the field and the outlook appeared grim
Jones, who had made Alaalatoa the skipper for this game in the absence of James Slipper and Michael Hooper from the starting XV, looked mortified in the coach’s box.
He was replaced by another star who has been through the ringer – Tupou playing his first Test since suffering a Achilles rupture of his own last year.
“He’s in a lot of trouble there. He got caught there, badly twisted and went straight to ground from the pressure from the front row and the All Black eight,” said Tim Horan on Stan Sport.
“He’s in some real discomfort,” added Sean Maloney. “These are horrible scenes, particularly in a World Cup year, for the captain.”
Allan Alaalatoa of the Wallabies looks on during the The Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup match between the Australia Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks . (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The Australian players rushed to comfort Alaalato.
“It’s such s sign of what an inspirational leader (he is),”said former All Black Sonny Bill Williams. “It’s a sign of how much the boys actually love him when he went down – knowing how big the injury is, and it’s a World Cup year. It was tough vision to hear.”
The Wallabies have Pone Fa’amausili in the squad and there could be a World Cup spot clearing for Zane Nonggorr or Sam Talakai.
Earlier Alaalatoa had placed a boomerang in front the of Ardie Savea as he stood out front of the New Zealand haka.
Afterwards, Savea laid down a tribute to the fallen Wallabies.
“Special moment to Taniela and Allan. Hope you brothers recover well. We send our love and prayers to you,” aid Savea.
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Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
Not enough leg days? :laughing:
CUW
Roar Rookie
it will be more fun if all blacks bring their own weapon - like HIKA ELLIOTT when he led the Haka! that was awwesome :stoked: :stoked: :stoked: :stoked: :stoked: BTW - any reaction to the throat slit by Savea?
CUW
Roar Rookie
at least he is on very little air time - compared to the former 2ndrower :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick:
CUW
Roar Rookie
not as rubbish as that 2nd rower - who tries to sound like a proff when commenting - if only he recorded and listened to himself - harakiri :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick:
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
pm,I guessed correctly what you meant and I thought the same.Was starting to feel really confident at how we were going,but too many things went wrong once again.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
TBH de Groot did have it over both the Wallaby tight heads he opposed.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Agreed as he definetly fits in with the many on that Stan commentary team. ALL useless.
Double Agent The Second
Roar Rookie
Maybe the Wallabies could throw boomerangs in a highly accurate yet respectful and inclusive manner at haka exponents? That might spark some interest!
pm
Roar Rookie
And then Slipper over to TH. Probably the best we can do. I would then play Taelekai ahead of Pone Faumuasilii as reserve TH.
pm
Roar Rookie
Sorry, looking back at my post, predictive text took 'carrying' to be 'earthing' :happy: . Thanks for replying sensically anyway
Todd
Roar Rookie
Yeah he is good
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
Just think his development has stopped and he's becoming a carried journey man - I can't recall him once before injury (and OZ had good phase play while he was on) him charging with the ball which we all know him so well for. As stated earlier elsewhere I love it if players prove me wrong and rub my face in it.
Leroy14
Roar Rookie
Matt Rogers was on rugby heaven recently. He was good and he’d make a good replacement for SBW
pm
Roar Rookie
He was right back to earthing very strongly against the ABs in that 5 minutes or so. Has his weaknesses but huge strengths too
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
If Hooper doesn't make the World Cup is he retired?
John
Can we bring Scott Sio in?
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Too many Boomerangs? I’d like to know if that was a one-off or will be repeated? Maybe for home games and the local people can decide on the gift or presentation? If it is something like that, it’d be cool if the ABs exchanged something too? Would that be inline with traditional indigenous greetings?
Wig
Roar Rookie
They really did look like they meant business
signpost
Roar Rookie
The acceptance was good but why did RA remove the boomerang shaped team face off. Is that too manly?
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Is then an update on the injury?