In doubt: Digby Ioane
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Australia have a fitness doubt over winger Digby Ioane ahead of Saturday's final Bledisloe Cup clash against New Zealand in Brisbane.
The 27-year-old flyer is still nursing a knee injury following the Wallabies' 25-19 win over Argentina in Rosario earlier this month.
"We're waiting to hear on Digby and then we'll go from there once it comes clear," said coach Robbie Deans.
Prop Sekope Kepu (knee), number eight Wycliff Palu (shoulder), and winger Drew Mitchell (ankle) have all been cleared to join the 30-man squad after recovering from injuries.
Utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper will also be available after missing the victory over the Pumas due to concussion.
The All Blacks are on a 16-match winning run, two short of the record held by Lithuania, and beat the Wallabies home and away en route to claiming the inaugural Rugby Championship title last month.
Comments
paulynz says...
@ Mace
Pull your head in bro. There's no need for that. Why can't you just be happy that the ABs are (mostly) playing well and winning?
You're obviously too young to remember the late nineties when the ABs lost five test matches in a row. What goes around comes around bro...
Have some class man!!
Posted 06:35 17th October 2012
isthatrightref says...
@ chisel68 & @ cuw3100... the difference imo is at least partly that NZ's 125 leading players are contracted to NZRU in the first instance & in effect loaned to the S15 sides on NZRU's terms, McCaw's sabbatical being the extreme example.
Wobblies & 'boks (not to mention NH players) are contracted to their S15 sides first & they expect the players to front every week regardless of whether that's in the best interests of the national side. I recall reading that Genia had played every minute pf every Reds game, this would surely have been a factor in his injury. That the 'boks haven't had as many injuries as the wobblies is probably more good luck than good player work-load management.
NZ & SA also obviously benefit from greater depth: when Carer's hammy tightens up he gets rested & Hanson & Co have faith in Cruden & Barrett stepping up to do a job in his absence; when Cooper does his knee (possibly partly due to being brought back too soon) it's panic stations almost, if not at 10 then at least in terms of the match 22.
Posted 10:42 15th October 2012
chisel68 says...
cuw3100.... Other nations have exactly the same schedule so why are Oz having all the injuries while NZ and SA not? This has to be the way they are trained and then when injured, how they manage those injuries. I read somewhere that Oz are less fit aerobically than NZ, and that this may be adding to the injury toll.
Either way, what IS good to see is that we went into TRC ranked #2 in the world and we should remain there even after this weekend, yet we haven't had the same team on the park for most of those matches. In fact, vastly different especially in key positions. Not too bad for a country with "no depth".
What the injury list HAS done is expose more S12 players to Test rugby and even though they will probably get belted by NZ this weekend, the experience these guys will get is invaluable. And that is invaluable to Oz moving forward.
Posted 07:48 15th October 2012
paulynz says...
Not a Robbie Deans fan. Never have been, never will be. But... The Wallabies are still ranked number two in the world and finished second in the Rugby Championship. Surely the coach has something to do with those results?
Hope the All Blacks show respect to the Wallabies by putting out their strongest possible team this coming Saturday.
Posted 07:04 15th October 2012
cuw3100 says...
IMHO this growing list of injured players may be due to the S15 , the length of the extended schedule more precisely. More teams has only helped increase the TV revenue and nothing else to benefit the game, the players and fans.
S12 was ideal becoz the best tallent was available to all franchises, the number of matches were less but more competitive and there was lot of entertainment for the fans.
Franchises did not have depleted squads and rotation of players was the norm. After the S12 when the Internationals were played, the best players were still available and relatively fresh and raring to go.
Now there are 15 teams but hardly the quality - either in players or the games themselves. Fans have stayed away from stadia at most places. SA and OZ have been the unfortuante teams with the injusries.
If this anomally is not rectified and soon, the game will suffer and the fans will lose interest. Too much of anything is not good for the body and mind :)
Posted 05:57 15th October 2012
Mace says...
Man Robbie you've done a WONDERFUL job ruining the Wallabies. Keep that losing streak against us up and the injuries rolling in hahahahahaha!!!! Man they suck...
Posted 04:44 15th October 2012
Wallaroo says...
This is getting beyond a joke. With a full strength squad and a "real" desire to win from the coaching staff I am fairly certain that the Wallabies have a chance against a rampant AB's squad. Rest assured it's going to take a lot of effort and a solid, well executed game nonetheless.
Posted 03:41 15th October 2012
kiwilad says...
Digby borm in Wellington, Australias star back, Kiwi coach, Mike Harris scoring most of the points?
Does anyone play rugby in Aus?
How many of the injured/ fit players, or management were actually born in Aus??
Posted 00:41 15th October 2012
paulynz says...
All the best for his recovery. Wonderful player when he's on his game.
Posted 19:20 14th October 2012
melkdave says...
Annother injury for the wallabies ,they just keep stacking up atm.Have to admit though ,he hasnt really done all that much this season to be honestHasnt really had alot of good service,and what he has had ,his then dropped the ball mostly.But class is supposed to shine though ,and theres no dought he has class ,so quick recovery hopefully .and a good game this weekend.
Posted 15:54 14th October 2012