Wallabies lock Adam Coleman ruled out against New Zealand in Dunedin
Friday 25 August 2017 06:49, UK
Abrasive Wallabies lock Adam Coleman has been ruled out of the Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks in Dunedin on Saturday with a shoulder injury.
Coleman aggravated his shoulder in training on Thursday, the Wallabies said in a statement.
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Rory Arnold has moved from the bench to partner Rob Simmons in the starting line-up, with Queensland's Izack Rodda brought into the replacements from where he could make his Test debut.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika also finalised his bench with Melbourne Rebels loose forward Lopeti Timani preferred over Waratahs flanker Jack Dempsey.
"It's a huge blow," captain Michael Hooper said of Coleman's injury. "We literally just found out this morning. We know he was pushing to the last minute to get it right, even did the lineouts that we did this morning, but he just couldn't get there."
Throughout the week the Australians have claimed they were not as bad as they appeared when thrashed 54-34 by New Zealand in Sydney last week and would prove in Saturday's rematch they can be competitive.
Coach Michael Chieka said: "Whether there's physicality of the game and all of the contact part of the game, it has to come down to every member of the team.
"Yes, Adam likes to be involved in that but we'll see who's prepared to step up and maybe take the lead there now. But he'll need everyone following him in.
"We're playing for Australia so I don't think we should be driven by what happened the week before. We can't dwell on the past too much because that's not where we're living. We're living in the now and tomorrow's going to be a huge game for us."
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Henry Speight, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia; 1 Scott Sio, 2 Stephen Moore, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Rob Simmons, 5 Rory Arnold, 6 Ned Hanigan, 7 Michael Hooper, 8 Sean McMahon.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Rory Arnold, 20 Lopeti Timani, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Reece Hodge, 23 Curtis Rona.
