Coops out, Mitchell in?

[Jehna]

Ashley-Cooper's toe-hold on Wales
By Robert Smith, in Montpellier
September 11, 2007


AUSTRALIA wing Adam Ashley-Cooper is not prepared to put personal ambitions ahead of the team as he treats a toe injury ahead of Saturday's Rugby World Cup showdown with Wales in Cardiff.


The ACT Brumbies' utility back came off as a precaution when he injured his right big toe after 60 minutes of Australia's landslide 91-3 win over Japan in Lyon last Saturday.


Ashley-Cooper, one of the discoveries of Australia's 2007 international season, rates his chances at 50-50 of playing with three more days' treatment ahead.


"It's a hypertension of the right big toe and I have bruised and strained a few ligaments in the joint," he said.


"I'm not training. It's still not right and it feels pretty sore. It's responding to treatment and we'll hold off until Friday before we make a decision.


"It's a massive game and of all the games this is probably the one I wanted to play in against Wales, but there are bigger fish to fry and if the toe isn't 100 percent I'm not going to risk it, it's not worth it.


"At the moment it's 50-50 and it has responded very well to treatment, with ice and anti-inflammatories. But I'm not running so it's difficult to tell at the moment."


If Ashley-Cooper doesn't recover in time, the Australians are likely to go with Drew Mitchell, who scored two tries when he came on for the last 20 minutes against Japan as his replacement.


Agence France-Presse

[hopep]

Be good if Drew gets another run. Lets hope he has is tackling brain in gear and his good kicking shoes on.

[JediKnight]

"It's a hypertension of the right big toe and I have bruised and strained a few ligaments in the joint," he said.

HTFU.......softcock

[Burgs]

JK must have taken his tough pills this morning