World Cup over for Australia's Wycliff Palu and Will Skelton
Tuesday 29 September 2015 12:35, UK
Australia duo Wycliff Palu and Will Skelton have been ruled out of the World Cup just a few days before Saturday's massive showdown with England.
Hulking lock Skelton came off the field clutching his arm just after the start of the second half during Sunday's emphatic win over Uruguay.
And No 8 Palu suffered what coach Michael Cheika described as a "problematic" hamstring injury in the same match.
Skelton will be replaced in the squad by his fellow lock Sam Carter and hooker James Hanson will come in for Palu.
Despite the fact he started at the weekend, the 33-year-old Palu was seen as an outsider to make the 23-man squad for the England game, due to Australia's numerous back-row options.
But Skelton, who started against Uruguay and was a replacement against Fiji, may be a bigger loss, as his ball-carrying ability offered the Wallabies a useful weapon in attack.
Australia have been convincing winners of their first two matches but face a more severe test on Saturday at Twickenham, against an England side desperate for the win they probably need to keep them in the tournament.
