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Rookie hooker called into Wallabies camp after training run injury

03 Aug 2022

(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

The Wallabies have rushed rookie hooker Billy Pollard to Argentina ahead of their Rugby Championship opener after Dave Porecki suffered a concussion in training.

Porecki will be unavailable for the first Test against the Pumas in Mendoza on Sunday (AEST) but could play in their second match in San Juan a week later.

It’s a blow for the Australians with Waratahs rake Porecki a breakout star during their series loss to England last month, starting in all three Tests.

It follows shattering news that Wallabies star Samu Kerevi will require a knee reconstruction after sustaining an injury while on Commonwealth Games duty with the Sevens team.

Brumbies hooker Pollard, 20, caught the eye of Wallabies coach Dave Rennie despite playing only eight Super Rugby matches since making his debut in 2021.

He won selection in the Australia A program and was preferred over Feleti Kaitu’u and Matt Faessler to start against Samoa and Tonga.

The absence of Porecki means Folau Fainga’a is likely to wear the No.2 jersey with Lachlan Lonergan coming onto the bench.

Rennie is set to announce his team to face Michael Cheika’s men overnight Thursday.

Comments

1 Comment

Richard 981 days ago

I've never known a team to get as many training injuries as the Wallabies under Rennie. Why?

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NB 4 minutes ago

Can Rugby Australia afford to go ‘all in’ on the Queensland Reds?

I think the main problem is how he tends to railroad threads on unrelated topics towards his own pet subject.

I just wish he’d show a bit more willingness to engage on matters outside it!

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NB 6 minutes ago

Can Rugby Australia afford to go ‘all in’ on the Queensland Reds?

He’s spitting with even more fury right now, but there’s not a lot of point in going down the same old roads with him all the time - and often on completely unrelated threads! If he stuck to actual rugby it might be diff - but it isn’t.

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NB 7 minutes ago

Can Rugby Australia afford to go ‘all in’ on the Queensland Reds?

I am beginning to feel that is what should happen Jon.

Although I do feel Les K is the outstanding Aussie candidate for the job, it would be hard for him to keep a foot in both camps at once, and it would wreck the Reds if he took his team with him to the WB.

So I’d be more inclined to appoint a top tracksuit coach in anticipation of Joe S. becoming involved again before 2027. I can’t see Les doing so much of the tracksuit work now, so Aussie needs a bloke who can coach attack and D to a high standard with the Lord leaving in November.

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Can Rugby Australia afford to go ‘all in’ on the Queensland Reds?

Hey Nick, thanks for another well put together article and interesting read. I would love to see Les Kiss stay at the Reds as it does feel like they are building towards something special with a great culture and team cohesion, but not quite this season unfortunately. Would be great if that reasoning was proved wrong and they take out title. It does feel to me, that Larkham and McKellar probably know more than us about the future Wallabies Coach and having now distanced themselves from the discussions, leaves Les as the frontrunner for the gig. RA do need to make a decision soon though before more of Noah’s mates join him overseas. On a more sobering note, RA’s problems seem minor to issue now being faced at home by the WRU. Would love to read your opinion on that one at some stage.

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GP 2 hours ago

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