Price-less Aussies rocked

Veteran prop ruled out of World Cup final

Last updated: 21st November 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Price-less Aussies rocked

Price: Injury blow

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Australia have been rocked by news that veteran prop Steve Price will miss Saturday's World Cup final showdown with New Zealand.

The 33-year-old had been named in the initial squad for the clash, however he pulled up suddenly during a routine drill in the team's final training session on Friday.

Examinations have shown Price has torn his left calf muscle - and after consultation with the medical staff, it has been decided to pull the New Zealand Warriors front-rower out of the side.

A replacement is not expected to be named until immediately before the match, however Manly prop Brent Kite is likely to be promoted from the bench, with Sea Eagles' team-mate Josh Perry added to the replacements.

However, while Price will sit out the match alongside Brent Tate - who has also withdrawn from the team with an injury - loose forward Paul Gallen has been declared fit.

Gallen had been struggling with a dead leg, however he came through training on Friday unscathed.

Australia: B Slater (Melbourne); J Monaghan (Canberra), G Inglis (Melbourne), I Folau (Melbourne), D Williams (Manly); D Lockyer (Brisbane, capt), J Thurston (North Queensland); P Civoniceva (Penrith), C Smith (Melbourne), TBC, G Stewart (Manly), A Laffranchi (Gold Coast), P Gallen (Cronulla).
Subs: K Hunt (Brisbane), C Fitzgibbon (Sydney Roosters), A Tupou (Sydney Roosters), B Kite (Manly).