The Wallabies have been rocked by yet another injury before the spring tour, with starting lock Matt Philip suffering a ruptured ACL in a lineout mishap.
With a long rehabilitation required, the injury will put the 27-Test forward’s World Cup selection chances in major doubt.
Philip’s gut-wrenching injury occurred just hours before the Wallabies’ scheduled departure for Europe on Wednesday, at a morning training session at the Waratahs’ headquarters in Daceyville.
Philip landed awkwardly during a lineout drill and was rushed to hospital, on crutches, for scans.
The worst news was confirmed via an announcement from the Wallabies later in the afternoon, in which they revealed the 28-year-old had suffered an ACL injury and would be not flying to France with the rest of the team, where the Wallabies will be based before a first Test against Scotland on Sunday week.
Matt Philip faces a long rehab after rupturing his ACL.Credit:GETTY
The injury is not only a major blow for Philip and the Wallabies’ on their five-Test tour of Europe and the UK, but it will put the Rebels lock in doubt for the 2023 World Cup as well.
Returning from ACL injuries can take up to a year, and with the World Cup starting in September – and a squad named a month before that – Philip will go from certain pick to a selection long-shot.
Philip has played in seven of the Wallabies’ nine Tests this year, and started in six.
The Wallabies will have to dig even deeper in their reserves of second-rowers to replace Philip on the spring tour, with Rodda, Rory Arnold (Japan) and Darcy Swain (suspension) unavailable for the first two Tests against Scotland and France.
Wallabies lock Matt Philip celebrates in Brisbane. Credit:Getty
France-based Will Skelton was named in the squad but is not available for the first Test.
Rennie will likely shuffle the decks and use Ned Hanigan and Jed Holloway in the second row, along with Nick Frost and Cadeyrn Neville. Having not been named initially, Swain will likely join the squad as well.
Philip’s ACL injury is the latest in an enormous injury toll suffered by the Wallabies in 2022.
Quade Cooper (Achilles tendon), Izack Rodda (foot), Samu Kerevi (knee), Rob Leota (Achilles tendon), Izzy Perese (knee), Angus Bell (foot) and Lachie Swinton (shoulder) are all out with serious injuries, while Andrew Kellaway (hamstring), Jed Holloway (calf), Neville (knee), Scott Sio (hamstring), Len Ikitau (calf), Taniela Tupou (calf) and Tom Banks (broken arm) are among a list of players who’ve missed Test matches due to injury.
Multiple players have also been sidelined with concussions.
