Wallabies’ SOS to Kurtley Beale after double blow

The Wallabies’ spring tour has taken a massive hit, with Samu Kerevi and Sean McMahon ruled out. While Quade Cooper has yet to join his Wallabies teammates either.

Samu Kerevi is out of the Wallabies’ Spring tour. Photo: Getty Images

The Wallabies’ spring tour hopes have taken a massive hit, with Samu Kerevi and Sean McMahon ruled out.

The Suntory-based duo did not board the flight to England and withdrew from the UK tour following meetings with their clubs on Monday.

Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos said on Tuesday that he wished the players had been more transparent about their intentions.

However, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said the pair, plus Quade Cooper, had expressed reservations about touring before the team left Australia.

“Right from the start the boys wanted the blessing of the club to tour,” said Rennie.

“Samu’s been away from Suntory for a while, they’re in pre-season now and a competition that starts in January.

“They’ve (Suntory) always been positive about him being back in the environment, keen to be a Wallaby, and we felt if they got the blessing of the club to tour they would tour.

“We left on Sunday, the Japanese boys stayed in Japan based on reg nine and they met the club on Monday and informed us they would not be travelling.”

It’s believed Cooper did not travel with the team on Monday to England either, and there is doubt over his availability.

We spoke with Quade this morning,” said Rennie. “He is with his club, and we’ve got a meeting with them tomorrow.”

Given the international window does not open until next week, Cooper could fly into camp alongside French-based trio Will Skelton, Rory Arnold and Tolu Latu, ahead of the Test against Scotland.

It’s understood the Wallabies have sent an SOS to Kurtley Beale as they look for cover at fullback after Reece Hodge injured his pectoral during the 32-23 victory against Japan on Saturday.

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie is scrambling for replacements after Samu Kerevi and Sean McMahon withdrew from their end of year Tests. Photo: Getty Images

Hodge will have scans on Tuesday to determine the severity of his injury.

“We’re a little bit thin, especially with Hodgey looking like he’s going to be out long term so we’ll certainly be looking for replacements,” said Rennie.

“We’ve made contact with Kurtley, and we’ve had conversations with Kurtley over a period of time, he’s made it really clear his desire to be a Wallaby again and with the introduction of some of the guys he played with previously he was pretty excited by that. We had a conversation yesterday around that.”

The loss of Kerevi in particular is a massive blow. His return, coupled by Cooper’s, has seen the Wallabies suddenly become a force on the world stage again, leading Australia to five straight victories off the back of their 3-0 series defeat to New Zealand.

The club versus country debate reignited after Kerevi left the field early in the second half during the Wallabies’ victory over Argentina in their final home Test of the season.

While Kerevi’s injury was not as bad as first feared, the former Queensland Reds captain was kept on ice for the win against the Brave Blossoms.

Racing92's Australian full back Kurtley Beale has been in strong form to start the season. Photo: AFP

It’s understood Rugby Australia director of rugby Scott Johnson is disappointed with the withdrawals, as the Wallabies scramble to find replacements.

With Kerevi unavailable, the Wallabies will likely continue to persist with Hunter Paisami at inside centre.

Izaia Perese is also an option to make his debut, having recovered from a shoulder injury suffered during the Waratahs’ final match of the year against the Chiefs.

He has also spent the past fortnight with the Wallabies.

Perese’s teammate Lalakai Foketi could also come into the frame to make his debut.

Luke Morahan is unlikely to be called up, with the former Wallaby turned Bristol Bear outside back missing the start of the English Premiership with a hamstring injury.

But 32-year-old Beale is expected to be catapulted back into the fold. Beale left the Waratahs in May last year, to join Paris-based French Top 14 giants Racing 92. The utility back has been in excellent form for Racing 92, where he has played alongside Scotland playmaker Finn Russell.

Beale, a veteran of 92 Tests, has always kept his dream alive of representing the Wallabies again and can cover every position in the backline, but will be looked at closely as cover at five-eighth and fullback.

Originally published as Wallabies’ SOS to Kurtley Beale after double blow