Wallaby woes mount up

[AndyS]

Wallaby coach Robbie Deans’ injury woes seems to be mounting as two more players have been ruled out of the November 1 test with the All Blacks in Hong Kong.

With star wing Lote Taquiri, scrumhalf Luke Burgess and No. 8 Wycliff Palu already ruled out, young forwards Peter Kimlin and Hugh McMeniman have also now been sidelined.

The injury issue is quickly turning into a crisis for Deans but the Kiwi remains upbeat ahead of a tour, he clearly believes, is an important one.

Neither Kimlin [quad strain] and McMeniman [ankle] are expected to be available for the Bledisloe Cup match-up in Hong Kong at the start of the tour and could then also still be under an injury cloud for the first leg of the European tour against Italy the following week.
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The former Crusaders boss and his Australian team have been involved in an intense pre-tour camp over the last couple of weeks and, while Deans admits the latest injuries may have come as a result of the tough sessions, he does not think regret pushing his players to their limits.

"These things happen when you are pushing the boundaries," Deans said of the injuries.

"You've always got 22 fit players you name and they are all here because we believe they offer us something, so whoever does get the call-up it will be great opportunity for them."

While some coaches in the past may have chosen to use the the end of year tour as a chance to experiment with their squad, Deans believes the this November series will prove to be an important step for him and his team and is therefore taking nothing for granted.

"Clearly we are going to require the whole group at some point in time."

Rest of the article here

I can't help wondering what this says about the fitness and conditioning of players coming out of Aussie club and S14 teams...

[force addict]

what!? Kimlin injured? who is going to be Horwill's replacement?!

[TOCC]

what do you think it means?

injuries happen to both players fit and unfit

[force addict]

i knew what it meant.

[TOCC]

i was talking about AndyS's comment at the bottom of the article

what!? Kimlin injured? who is going to be Horwill's replacement?!

it will probably be Mumm-Sharpe starting locks with Brown starting openside

[force addict]

my apologies

[AndyS]

injuries happen to both players fit and unfit

True, but that makes it Burgess, McMeniman, Horwill and now Kimlin all picking up injuries - maybe coincidental, but it almost seems that players get their chance then get injured. Does make me wonder if Robbie's regime is a bit more stringent than their S14 team (which would be disappointing) or, if they have been playing rather than training, whether club rugby is actually slacking off relative to training.

[James]

If a lock and a lock/blindside are out they'll have to be replaced yeah? What are the chances for Tommy Hockings I wonder. Al Campbell is a possibility and he's pretty experienced but maybe Robbie'll go for development over an old head for this one.

Is Hockings back from his shoulder injury? Would be some great experience even if he doesn't necessarily get to play.

[TOCC]

I think we will see a lineup like
4. Sharpe
5. Mumm
6. Brown
7. Smith
8. Palu

with Chisolm and Waugh on the bench, coincidentally if Palu is still injured then Mumm will probably move to blindside flanker with Brown at 8 and Chisolm will be brought on to fill the lock position. At which point there will need to be another call up, quite possibly hockings, unless Deans experiments with Pocock at blindside.

[blueandblack]

Lote is injured due to a mass attack with lote-bashing sticks.

[GIGS20]

The article inn this thread Seems to sujjest Mummy's boy will get the #6 and touts Brown-dog at 8 and Bamm Bamm riding the pines......no mention of the second lock though. process of elimination points to Chis I guess.

[lara93]

lote is being tested today on that knee of his

[jargan83]

if McMeniman were a horse he would have had a bullet put in him a long time ago
Posted via Mobile Device

[James]

if McMeniman were a horse he would have had a bullet put in him a long time ago
Posted via Mobile Device

His family could start up the McMeniman's Own glue factory.

[shasta]

Does make me wonder if Robbie's regime is a bit more stringent than their S14 team (which would be disappointing) or, if they have been playing rather than training, whether club rugby is actually slacking off relative to training.

The Wallabies were released to play what was left of the season with their clubs and about 6 or eight of them played the Shute Shield final. Deans seems to believe in giving his players every opportunity to get game time but I think they are really only involved in the matches and are still under the Wallabies training regime.

I like the fact that he's treating this tour so seriously, injuries not withstanding. The inability of the team to win away has been a big chink in the armour under the past 2 coaches. The win in ZA was a step forward and Aussie Bob seems intent on extending the record.