0
Mortlock to miss one match
From Jim Morton in Cardiff, Wales
September 16, 2007
AUSTRALIA captain Stirling Mortlock is likely to miss one Rugby World Cup match after sustaining a shoulder injury as the Wallabies defeated Wales 32-20 in Cardiff today.
Mortlock suffered a partial dislocation of his left shoulder in scoring the second of Australia's four tries in an entertaining battle at Millennium Stadium.
He was treated for several minutes before resuming for the final five minutes of the first half, but he was replaced at half-time with the Wallabies ahead 25-3.
Mortlock said that his substitution had been a precautionary move, and he indicated that he would be rested from the pool match against Fiji clash in Montpellier next weekend before returning against Canada in Bordeaux on September 29.
"In scoring that try, I subluxed my shoulder," he said.
"It pretty much went straight back in ... as soon as it did that, I was fine.
"If that was a quarter-final or a semi, there was no way I would have come off.
"But it was more of a precautionary measure and we'll assess it in the next few days."
When Mortlock lay prone on the turf, there were fears Australia could have lost its second key backline player after Stephen Larkham was a late withdrawal from the match against Wales with a knee injury.
Larkham will undergo surgery at the team's French base in Montpellier tomorrow, with an arthroscope to explore damage and clean out the joint.
The best-case scenario involving Larkham would see the 102-Test playmaker play 10 minutes off the bench against Canada and start in the October 6 quarter-final in Marseille, Connolly said.
AAP
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Sagerian
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Giteau." 
CHEERLEADERS ROCK!!! 
Well...we all know what happens to Lord Voldemort don't we..
