Australia suffer double injury blow in Rugby World Cup squad ahead of ‘do or die’ Fiji clash as captain Will Skelton and Taniela Tupou are ruled out from Eddie Jones’ side
- Eddie Jones’s World Cup plans face setbacks as Australian players face injuries
- Will Skelton, Australia captain, may still play pending a scan on his calf injury
- Fiji views the upcoming match as a ‘do or die’ game following their Wales defeat
Eddie Jones’s best-laid plans for the World Cup have been dealt a blow after Australian heavyweights Taniela Tupou and Will Skelton suffered injuries.
Prop Tupou suffered a hamstring strain which has ruled him out of tomorrow’s game against Fiji and is likely to sideline him for the bulk of the pool stages.
Lock and captain Skelton has been named in the team for the Saint-Etienne Test but his participation hinges on a last-minute scan on a calf injury.
‘At this stage, he’s still in the team,’ Jones said yesterday.
The Wallabies have already lost vice-captain and scrum-half Tate McDermott to a head knock, with veteran Nic White ready to step in.
Lock and captain Skelton has been named but his participation hinges on a calf scan
Taniela Tupou has been ruled out of the Fiji match due to a hamstring strain, with his loss diminishing Australia’s set-piece threat going into what’s been described as a ‘do or die’ game
Rob Leota said Australia would be ready for Fiji no matter which members of the squad were in
Eddie Jones ’s best-laid plans for the World Cup have been dealt a blow after Australian heavyweights Taniela Tupou and Will Skelton suffered injuries ahead of crucial Fiiji clash
Losing Tupou could undermine Jones’s plans to dominate the set-piece against the Pacific Islanders, as James Slipper switches from loosehead to starting tighthead to provide cover.
‘When you play against Fiji, you’d always like to have set-piece advantage,’ said Jones.
‘The power contests will be interesting, they’ve got a very big pack but we want to take them on in that area. Then in the transitional, we’ve got to be one step ahead of them. They’ve got a brilliant ability to play counter-attacking rugby. They’ve got pace and precision and that puts a different test to you.’
Following Sunday night’s nail-biting defeat by Wales, Fiji have labelled tomorrow’s fixture as ‘do or die’.
Australia have named seven native Fijians in their team, and Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui said: ‘We’re proud of all Fijians that play all over the world. Some have had to go overseas to find opportunities but we’re proud of all our brothers whether they play for Fiji or Australia or other countries. It’s going to be good with 30 Fijians on the field.
‘Eddie will have them firing — it should be a good match.’
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