Matt Giteau and Will Genia to miss Australia's trip to Argentina
Tuesday 21 July 2015 11:50, UK
Centre Matt Giteau and scrum-half Will Genia have been ruled out through injury from Australia's Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Mendoza on Saturday.
Centre Giteau suffered a sternum injury during Saturday's last-minute 24-20 win over South Africa while scrum-half Genia limped off at half-time with what scans later revealed as bone bruising and ligament damage.
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Scans on Giteau's nose and chest cleared the 32-year-old of serious damage, but Australia coach Michael Cheika decided to rest the 93-Test veteran for the match in Mendoza ahead of two subsequent Bledisloe Cup Tests against New Zealand.
"He's one of the toughest members in the squad and we all witnessed during the match just how passionate Matthew is about representing his country again," Cheika said.
"It's disappointing to lose him for this round. However, knowing he will be right to go for the Bledisloe series is reassuring for the group and our fans."
Giteau left the field for a medical assessment during the second half after a head knock, but returned to the action and missed a late penalty attempt from 41 metres that would have levelled the match at 20-20. He was still on the field when centre partner Tevita Kuridrani barged over for a try after the full-time siren sounded to clinch a late comeback win.
"It's going to be a big year for Giteau and to send him over to Mendoza after a very physical test as well as a tight turnaround, just isn't fair on him or the group," Cheika added.
It was Giteau's first Test in four years for the Wallabies. He was ineligible for national selection for three seasons after leaving to play in France having been cut from their squad for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, where Australia finished third.
But changes to the selection policy, allowing foreign-based players with at least 60 Test caps to be eligible again for Australia, resulted in Giteau and Toulon team-mate Drew Mitchell being included in the Wallabies expanded World Cup squad.
Mitchell came on as a second-half replacement against South Africa.
Matt Toomua, who added a directness to the Australian back-line after coming on as a replacement for Quade Cooper in the second half, is likely to fill the vacant inside centre spot against Argentina.
Christian Lealiifano has also been drafted into the squad in Giteau's absence.
"For the Wallabies to be successful, we need to have the belief that our depth can cover each position and I have that confidence in Christian if he's called upon for this weekend's match," Cheika said.
Genia, a veteran of 58 Tests, is to undergo minor surgery on his injured right knee but Cheika is confident he will be available for selection later in the Rugby Championship.
The Australian Rugby Union said that winger Rob Horne, who has a calf strain, will also miss the Argentina match. Winger Nick Cummins, scrum-half Nic White, hooker James Hanson and prop Tetera Faulkner were added to the 31-man squad to travel to South America.
