Rugby Championship
Aussie trio vie for fullback
2012-10-02 07:54
Sydney - Mike Harris, Pat McCabe and Dom Shipperley will be vying for the
vacant fullback spot in Sunday's Test against Argentina in
Rosario, Argentina.
After five Wallabies were forced to leave the field through
injury during their 31 to 8 loss to the Springboks in Pretoria last
Saturday, there were concerns they would not have enough fit bodies to
choose from for their last Rugby Championship Test.
On arrival in Rosario after a day's travel from South Africa,
the Wallabies discovered that their injury situation had improved
somewhat.
While Berrick Barnes (punctured lung) and Adam Ashley-Cooper
(concussion) remained in South Africa, Digby Ioane (kneecap), Tatafu
Polota-Nau (shoulder) and Radike Samo (shoulder) are now expected to be
available.
Also, forwards Sitaleki Timani and Scott Higginbotham, who missed the Springboks Test, are back in contention.
While Luke Morahan and Cadeyrn Neville have been summoned
from Australia, the most pressing Test spots that need to be filled are
fullback and in the midfield.
The Test selectors are unlikely to bring Morahan straight
back in, and are instead looking at either Harris, McCabe and Shipperley
to take over from Barnes, who will remain in South Africa until at
least the end of the week. Anthony Faingaa and Ben Tapuai are in
contention for a centre berth.
The Test team will be announced on Thursday.