Matt Toomua the latest Brumbies star to be cut down by injury ahead of Waratahs clash

David Barbeler
AAP
June 23, 2014 4:20PM


Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is adamant he won’t take any risks with Wallabies star Matt Toomua in Saturday’s crucial Super Rugby clash against the NSW Waratahs.

Toomua was undergoing scans on Monday for a groin niggle suffered in the third Test against France on Saturday.

The Brumbies need to beat the Waratahs in Sydney to have any chance of topping the Australian conference, however they could otherwise still sneak into the top six with a final round win against Western Force.

While Larkham is determined to finish the regular season with two straight wins, he’ll take a cautious approach when it comes to Toomua - especially considering the Brumbies have a bye next week. “If there’s any chance of making the injury worse we will not be playing him,” Larkham said.

“You wouldn’t run that risk.”

While Toomua’s would be a big loss, the Brumbies have a readymade playmaker replacement in fellow Wallaby Christian Lealiifano.

Following a season-ending injury to Toomua in 2012, Lealiifano excelled at fly-half and was named man-of-the-match in eight of the 10 games he played.

“He’ll do a good job, if that’s the case,” Larkham said.

However Toomua’s niggle is just one problem in a growing list for the Brumbies.

Joe Tomane is still in doubt with a cheekbone injury, while Wallabies utility Pat McCabe is unlikely to return from a shoulder injury.

It’s expected Andrew Smith will be called into the centres alongside Tevita Kuridrani, with Jesse Mogg promoted from the bench to fullback.

Mogg returned to Canberra from Singapore on Monday as part of the Brumbies squad that came runners-up to the Blues at the inaugural World Club 10s.

The tournament’s leading tryscorer with five tries from six games, Mogg said the extra space had helped with his running game.

“It was good fun. I only kicked twice in the whole comp, so I definitely came out with more confidence,” he said.

In the forwards, Wallabies debutant lock Sam Carter (ankle) is still out, while injuries to Stephen Moore and Josh Mann-Rea may force the club to look to their fourth and fifth string hookers.

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