Wallabies v Italy: Would-be Wallabies debutant Jordan Petaia ruled out
Teenage sensation Jordan Petaia has been robbed of the chance to make his Test debut after succumbing to a hamstring injury in Italy.
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Teenage sensation Jordan Petaia has been robbed of the chance to make his Test debut after succumbing to a hamstring injury in Italy.
The 18-year-old would have become the third-youngest Wallabies player in history had he played in Padua, but a late call has been made by coach Michael Cheika not to risk him for such an occasion when he is not fully fit.
Marika Koroibete has been called straight into the starting side as Petaia’s replacement on the wing despite not making the initial 23-man squad, with Cheika preferring to keep the balance of Kurtley Beale and Dane Haylett-Petty on the bench.
In a double blow on the eve of the match against Italy, replacement lock Rory Arnold has also been withdrawn after fracturing his eye socket after an accidental head clash at training.
Arnold will be replaced on the bench by Rob Simmons.
Petaia, the next big thing in Australian rugby, was desperate to play but knew he was not 100 per cent fit for the game.
In a statement the Wallabies said: “Australian medical staff have opted not to rush the rehabilitation and the winger is expected to be fit in time for the England clash at Twickenham next week.”
Arnold suffered a split eyebrow late at training on Thursday. He was stitched up on the sideline but when he returned to the team hotel that evening the cut was not healing.
The team doctor took a closer inspection and discovered a small fracture.
Koroibete was not selected for last week’s match against Wales, so even with Petaia’s withdrawal the Wallabies’ backline is still far removed from that which took the field in Cardiff.
Outside centre Samu Kerevi is the only backline player to retain his position.
Bernard Foley has been moved from five-eighth to inside centre, while Israel Folau has been moved to fullback from the wing.
A new halves combination of Jake Gordon and Matt Toomua will play together for the first time, while veteran winger Adam Ashley-Cooper returns to the side for the first time in two-and-a-half years.
Italy vs Australia, Padua, Sunday 1am (AEDT)
TV: Live on Fox Sports, SBS
ITALY: 15. Jayden Hayward 14. Tommaso Benvenuti 13. Michele Campagnaro 12. Tommaso Castello 11. Mattia Bellini 10. Tommaso Allan 9. Tito Tebaldi 8. Abraham Jurgens Steyn 7. Jake Polledri 6. Sebastian Negri 5. Dean Budd 4. Alessandro Zanni 3. Simone Ferrari 2. Leonardo Ghiraldini (captain) 1. Andrea Lovotti.
Reserves: 16. Luca Bigi 17. Cherif Traore 18. Tiziano Pasquale 19. Marco Fuser 20. Johan Meyer 21. Guglielmo Palazzani 22. Carlo Canna 23. Luca Morisi.
WALLABIES: 15. Israel Folau 14. Adam Ashley-Cooper 13. Samu Kerevi 12. Bernard Foley 11. Marika Koroibete 10. Matt Toomua 9. Jake Gordon 8. David Pocock 7. Michael Hooper (captain) 6. Jack Dempsey 5. Adam Coleman 4. Izack Rodda 3. Taniela Tupou 2. Folau Fainga’a 1. Scott Sio.
Reserves: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau 17. Jermaine Ainsley 18. Sekope Kepu 19. Rob Simmons 20. Pete Samu 21. Will Genia 22. Kurtley Beale 23. Dane Haylett-Petty.
Originally published as Wallabies v Italy: Would-be Wallabies debutant Jordan Petaia ruled out
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