Pocock sidelined for three months

Updated August 22, 2012 08:33:55

Australia's Rugby Championship campaign has received another huge blow, with captain David Pocock ruled out for the remainder of the competition after undergoing keyhole surgery on his right knee.

Openside flanker Pocock is expected to be out for up to three months, also putting him in doubt for the Wallabies' November spring tour.

The surgery was required after he damaged the articular cartilage in last Saturday's Bledisloe Cup match with New Zealand in Sydney.

Pocock took over the captaincy at the start of the international season after first-choice skipper James Horwill was ruled out of the four June Tests and the Rugby Championship with a hamstring injury.

Half-back Will Genia, who captained the Wallabies once before against the United States in last year's World Cup, has been confirmed as the new skipper, starting with Saturday's clash with New Zealand in Auckland.

He is the fourth man to hold the position in just over 12 months, following Rocky Elsom, Horwill and Pocock.

Pocock's place at openside flanker is likely to be taken by Michael Hooper, while boom Queensland number seven Liam Gill could be added to the reserves bench.

While without the direct-playing Pocock, the chastened Wallabies are still intent on showing more fire and aggression at the breakdown in Auckland.

Outplayed in the 27-19 loss in Sydney last weekend, the Wallabies have targeted an improvement in the contact area after conceding too many turnovers in that match.

"We just let them in to our breakdown and turned over our ball a bit easy," Wallabies lock Sitaleki Timani said.

"I think the thing we need to do is don't be nice to them at the breakdown.

"Try to get them off our ball and try and get quick ball to the backs to do their job.

"Watching the game, they just lay all over our ball and we didn't really do too much about it."

Meanwhile, the Wallabies will be without prop Sekope Kepu for the Eden Park encounter this Saturday after he was ruled out with a knee injury.

AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, australia, new-zealand

First posted August 21, 2012 18:11:30

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Lealiifano sidelined for six months

Updated May 07, 2012 15:13:06

Brumbies fly half Christian Lealiifano will be sidelined for six months after team medical staff confirmed the 24-year-old has fractured and dislocated his ankle.

He is undergoing surgery in Canberra today.

Lealiifano's ankle was caught by a Waratahs player during his side's 23-6 win at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.

He is the second number 10 the Brumbies have lost this season after Australian under-21 representative Matt Toomua suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Sharks in March.

Coach Jake White is now likely to turn to either Robbie Coleman or Zack Holmes for a fly half replacement.

"We'll have a look to see who fits in best in terms of what we want to do," White said.

Lealiifano was stretchered off late in the game and the Brumbies gathered around him in the dressing room to sing the team song after the side's strong win over the Waratahs.

He remained in good spirits heading into his operation and sent thank-yous to his team-mates and supporters via Twitter.

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-rugby, australia, canberra-2600

First posted May 07, 2012 12:50:19

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Beale sidelined for final trial match

Updated February 17, 2012 11:04:48

Melbourne Rebels full-back Kurtley Beale has been ruled out of this Saturday's preseason match against the Crusaders at AAMI Park with injury.

The Rebels' new recruit suffered a slight hamstring strain during Thursday morning's training session and will be rested from the game.

"Scans reveal the injury is minor, but he will miss this weekend's game against the Crusaders at AAMI Park as a precaution," Rebels coach Damien Hill said.

Hill said Beale will be eased back into training over the next fortnight and is confident he will be ready for their first Super Rugby fixture against the Waratahs on March 2.

AAP

Tags: super-14, rugby-union, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted February 17, 2012 11:04:48

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Elsom sidelined again

Updated May 23, 2011 19:09:00

Rocky Elsom is almost certain to miss the rest of the Super Rugby season after scans confirmed the Wallabies captain has a syndesmosis injury.

Elsom suffered the ankle damage in his comeback appearance for the Brumbies against the Western Force in Perth on Saturday night after being sidelined for six months with a hamstring injury.

While the Brumbies have yet to completely write him off, the struggling two-time Super Rugby champions are out of finals contention and only have four matches left.

Syndesmosis injuries usually require at least four to six weeks to heal.

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, canberra-2600

First posted May 23, 2011 17:41:00

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