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Wallabies dealt another back-row blow
By Online Editors
The Wallabies have suffered another blow to their back row, losing Pete Samu for the next month after he hyper-extended his knee last weekend.
Samu is expected to be left out of the Wallabies squad for games against South Africa and Argentina, leaving Michael Cheika with a tough hole to fill.
Lukhan Tui may also be absent. It is unclear when the 22-year-old will next play for the Wallabies after declaring a desire to spend time with family following a post-match altercation in the stands.
Samu had scans on his knee in Canberra this week and it is hoped he will return in time for Australia's third Bledisloe Cup Test.
Without Samu and Tui, Cheika faces a forward-pack reshuffle. David Pocock and Michael Hooper are both expected to be fit, while Ned Hanigan and Caleb Timu shape as the next men up.
It's possible that Samu could make his return playing for the Canberra Vikings in the National Rugby Championship before the third Bledisloe Test on October 27.
Wallabies midfielder Tevita Kuridrani is also hoping to recover from a torn pectoral fast enough to take part in the End of Year tour.
Injuries to Kuridrani and young Reds star Samu Kerevi left Australia without two of their starting midfielders, but both could return for the final Bledisloe Test.
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Latest Comments
I didn't mean to sound down on Dmac. Just looking hard at the bench sub's role of providing impact. I don't think he can do that at 15, and the bench is not really about injury cover anymore (you need to maximise it's use more than that).
He's my first choice of any New Zealander for the 10 jersey with the All Blacks.
Go to commentsAgreed. And I don't have much more to say on it, but I had been having one thought that sprang to mind at the tail of this discussion, and that is that it's not all about Razor.
It's not about any coach being "right". I think a lot of selections can become defense and while it doesn't really apply here I really enjoyed that Andy Farrell just gave into the public demands and changed out his team for the change that had been asked for. Like why not? This is the countries team, keep them engaged. The whole reason i've only just finished watching the game was because I wasn't interested in watching any of the selected players against a team like Italy (still actually enjoyed the first half with the contest Italy made of it).
Faz leap frogs a younger half back into start. He hands the golden child the game over July's golden child. He gives an old winger a go, a new flanker and hooker. None of them really did any good, certainly not enough to suggest they should have been promoted above others, but who cares? You won, and you gave the country what they wanted, that's all that matters after all. It's for the country, not the one in charge who thinks they have to have their own pied piper tune playing.
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