Australia have suffered a significant setback ahead of the opening Rugby Championship Tests against the Springboks, with their premier scrummager likely to miss the trip.
Australia have suffered a significant setback ahead of the opening Rugby Championship Tests against the Springboks, with their premier scrummager likely to miss the trip.
Tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa has been ruled out of Saturday’s final Test against the British & Irish Lions after suffering a shoulder injury in last weekend’s narrow loss in Melbourne.
According to The Roar, Alaalatoa could be sidelined for several months and may even require surgery, which would bring his 2025 season to a premature end.
It leaves Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt scrambling for front-row reinforcements ahead of back-to-back Tests against the Springboks in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Alaalatoa’s absence was sorely felt in the second half at the MCG, as the Australian scrum was repeatedly put under pressure, ultimately costing them key territory in a game that went down to the wire. Schmidt’s side were leading for 79 minutes before the tourists snatched a 29-26 victory with a last-gasp try.
Without the experienced tighthead, the Wallabies will now turn to a mix of options. Tom Robertson – who has played more than 70% of his professional matches at loosehead prop before making 14 starts at tighthead for the Western Force this season – endured a torrid time on the right side of the front row when coming off the bench against the Lions, while Pone Fa’amausili remains out of the Test picture. Reds youngster Zane Nonggorr is also in the squad but still learning his trade at the top level.
Former All Blacks loosehead Aidan Ross – who was born in Australia, has completed World Rugby’s three-year stand-down period, and recently signed with the Reds – has been called into the squad to add depth. However, his inclusion is more of a long-term investment, with no immediate expectation of Test minutes.
Meanwhile, veteran prop Taniela Tupou has slipped down the pecking order entirely after a poor Super Rugby season with the Waratahs, culminating in a move to French giants Racing 92.
