Injured superstars Israel Folau and David Pocock on track to tackle Pumas
THE news just keeps getting better for the Wallabies. After their gutsy win over South Africa, Australia’s two most important players have rejoined their teammates ahead of Saturday’s pivotal Pumas clash.
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AUSTRALIA have received a massive boost ahead of Saturday’s pivotal Rugby Championship clash with Argentina at the Gold Coast after Israel Folau and David Pocock rejoined the Wallabies at training.
Both were forced to withdraw because of injury from last Saturday’s courageous 23-18 win over South Africa at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane and will still have to pass fitness tests before being cleared to play against the Pumas.
But the early signs are encouraging with the two superstars both joining their teammates in the gym on Monday morning then again for a training run on the paddock in the afternoon.
Their availability would give the Wallabies a huge lift as they desperately want to win their last home game of the season to elevate themselves off the bottom of the championship standings and build some momentum before going on the road.
Folau injured his ankle in last month’s first Bledisloe Cup loss to New Zealand in Sydney but the Wallabies’ fullback has been making steady progress while loose forward Pocock is still recovering from a stiff and painful neck after it was twisted at the breakdown in the second match with the All Blacks.
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A decision on whether they will play against the Pumas won’t be made until later in the week with Wallabies’ coach Michael Cheika not naming his team until Thursday but their appearance at training is a real positive for the team.
It is also unclear whether towering lock Adam Coleman will be available after he pulled out of the Springbok test to return to Melbourne to be with his partner Tonia for the birth of their first child, with Cheika having already told the new dad that family comes first.
Rob Simmons, who had been unceremoniously axed in the fallout from the two New Zealand losses, made a last-minute return to Brisbane to start on the bench after Coleman’s withdrawal and has remained with the Australians in camp.
The Wallabies captain Michael Hooper was also at training, showing no ill-effects from his sore hamstring, as the team enjoyed a light workout with plenty of players still licking their wounds after the bruising showdown with the South Africans.
Most of the players who had been training with the expanded squad but didn’t make the matchday 23 have been recalled to help with preparations this week though there are unlikely to be any new faces added in the wake of last weekend’s much needed win.
Although it wasn’t always pretty, the Wallabies showed great character to hold off the Springboks, especially in the dying minutes when they were pounding the Australian line with the result in the balance.
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Originally published as Injured superstars Israel Folau and David Pocock on track to tackle Pumas