Super Rugby: Brumbies five-eighth Matt Toomua facing up to six weeks out with ankle injury

THE Brumbies are facing a test of their squad depth after the Blues added insult to injury in their Super Rugby upset on Friday night.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 04: Matt Toomua of the Brumbies is tackled during the round eight Super Rugby match between the Brumbies and the Cheetahs at GIO Stadium on April 4, 2015 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images)

THE Brumbies are facing a test of their squad depth after the Blues added insult to injury in their Super Rugby upset on Friday night.

Five-eighth Matt Toomua faces 4-6 weeks on the sidelines with an ankle syndesmosis injury suffered during their 16-14 loss to the previously win-less Blues in Auckland.

Five-Test Wallabies prop Scott Sio, who was replaced just after halftime, suffered a knee medial ligament strain.

At Brumbies training on Monday, he was getting around with his right knee in a brace and is looking at a 6-8 weeks out with only nine rounds of the Super Rugby regular season remaining.

Inside centre Christian Lealiifano is likely to play five-eighth against the Melbourne Rebels in Canberra on Saturday night, while JP Smith is set to replace Sio.

Utility back James Dargaville was to undergo scans in Canberra on Monday to identify whether he has broken bones in his foot, which could potentially result in a similar recovery period to Sio. Toomua’s issue is the same injury that teammate David Pocock suffered in his round-one comeback from a knee reconstruction, and he was able to return to action from the bench four weeks later. If Toomua could get back within four weeks, he would be a chance of making the Brumbies’ South African tour in May.

Nigel Ah Wong and 21-year-old former Gold Coast Titans player Lausii Taliauli are poised to come into the centres which would force Henry Speight back out to his usual position on the wing. The latest injuries add to those of backline stars Jesse Mogg and Tevita Kuridrani, who are both recovering from shoulder injuries.

Kuridrani didn’t train with the team on Monday, while Mogg ran at fullback in non-contact field sessions.

Originally published as Super Rugby: Brumbies five-eighth Matt Toomua facing up to six weeks out with ankle injury