The Wallabies’ hopes of beginning 2024 with a bang have been dealt a blow, with star centre Len Ikitau injured on the eve of their first Take a look at of the season towards Wales.
Lower than 24 hours after Kurtley Beale’s shattering harm for Randwick within the Shute Protect on Saturday, The Roar can reveal Ikitau – the fashionable Brumbies outdoors centre – will miss the Wales opener with a hamstring harm.
It’s understood the 25-year-old, who performed the final of his 28 Checks towards Argentina earlier than lacking the remainder of The Rugby Championship with a shoulder harm, suffered the setback in coaching late final week with the Wallabies.
Len Ikitau suffered a hamstring harm at Wallabies coaching final week. (Photograph by Rodrigo Valle/Getty Photographs)
After Jordan Petaia wore the No.13 jersey all through the Wallabies’ opening three World Cup fixtures, with Leicester-bound outdoors centre Izaia Perese filling the function within the win towards Portugal, Schmidt must flip to a brand new choice for Saturday’s opener towards Wales.
The harm may see Josh Flook, the specialist outdoors centre and one of many grittiest gamers in Australian rugby, get given a possibility after years of being on the periphery of choice.
He’ll face strain from his new Reds teammate Filipo Daugunu, who had a memorable 12 months for the Rebels after spending extra time within the No.13 jersey after beforehand predominantly being seen as a winger.
Flook’s partnership with Hunter Paisami may show telling.
David Feliaui, the 27-year-old late bloomer who minimize his skilled tooth in Romania earlier than incomes an opportunity in Melbourne, is an alternative choice. Hamish Stewart, the powerful Power midfielder, is an alternative choice.
Josh Flook will doubtless go face to face with Filipo Daugunu for the No.13 jersey after Len Ikitau’s harm. (Photograph by Robert Cianflone/Getty Photographs)
Andrew Kellaway has additionally performed at outdoors centre, however the common outdoors again is extra prone to function in Schmidt’s beginning again three.
The revelation comes hours after Beale, who was launched as one among 4 gamers from the Wallabies’ preliminary 38-man squad, suffered a devastating harm throughout Randwick’s 50-37 win over Japanese Suburbs.
Beale got here off the bench however was helped off the sphere within the 59th minute with what seemed to be an Achilles harm.
In the meantime, Reds duo Ryan Smith and Harry Wilson have additionally left the Wallabies camp.
Wilson was all the time unlikely to function towards Wales in Sydney after breaking his arm towards the Rebels halfway via the Tremendous Rugby season.
Schmidt has a number of choices obtainable to fill the No.8 jersey although, with reigning John Eales Medallist Rob Valetini, his Brumbies teammate Charlie Cale and Waratahs back-rower Langi Gleeson choices.
Smith’s exclusion is extra shocking.
A tough-working lock, the 27-year-old was referred to as up for the primary time alongside Reds teammate Angus Blyth, Nick Frost and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.
Power captain Jeremy Williams is probably going seen extra of a blindside flanker choice however may additionally function within the second-row.
After a two-day break, the Wallabies will regroup on Sunday morning in Sydney.
