Wallabies suffer injury blow

The Wallabies have been dealt a major blow on the eve of their Bledisloe Cup clash against the All Blacks with second-rower Adam Coleman ruled out of the match with a shoulder injury.

Coleman's late withdrawal has paved the way for 21-year-old Izack Rodda to make an unexpected test debut off the bench against the world's No 1 ranked side. 

On Thursday, Cheika named Coleman and Rob Simmons as Australia's starting second-rowers but Wallabies officials say Coleman aggravated an existing shoulder injury at the team's last session in Christchurch that day. 

Coleman did not participate in the Wallabies captain's run on Friday at Forsyth Barr Stadium, leaving early down the tunnel after a team photo was taken. Arnold will take his spot in the starting side alongside Simmons, with Rodda to line-up on the bench. Rodda, who turned 21 on Sunday, has played just 12 Super Rugby games for the Reds. 

It will be a baptism of fire for the youngster Rodda, who will potentially be going up against the likes of All Blacks stalwarts Brodie Rettalick and Sam Whitelock. 

On Thursday, Cheika said he liked what he had seen thus far from Rodda since he joined Wallabies camp.

"One of the guys who's done really well since we've been in camp has been Rodda," Cheika said.

"I've really liked his attitude towards the game." 

Meanwhile, Cheika has picked Lopeti Timani over Jack Dempsey for the final Wallabies bench spot. 

Wallabies: Scott Sio, Stephen Moore, Allan Alaalatoa, Rob Simmons, Rory Arnold, Ned Hanigan, Michael Hooper, Sean McMahon, Will Genia, Bernard Foley, Henry Speight, Kurtley Beale, Tevita Kuridrani, Dane Haylett-Petty, Israel Folau. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson, Sekope Kepu, Izack Rodda, Lopeti Timani, Nick Phipps, Reece Hodge, Curtis Rona.

 

 

Photo by: MARK KOLBE/ GETTY IMAGES Caption: Wallabies lock Adam Coleman will miss the second Bledisloe test.