Israel Folau to miss Eden Park clash

Editor

Australia have been dealt a major blow ahead of next weekend’s Rugby Championship clash with New Zealand after Israel Folau was ruled out injured.

The full-back suffered an ankle injury in the second-half of Australia’s 38-13 defeat in Sydney, with Michael Cheika confirming his absence.

“He got a small tear in a muscle, right down low. Quite rare, really, but it is actually not a long-term injury at all,” the coach told reporters.

“It’s just a lot of swelling. We’ll be hopeful he’ll be back for the first game in Brisbane.”

That match in Brisbane is the Wallabies’ Round Three clash against South Africa on September 8. Before that however is a trip to Eden Park where Cheika believes Jack Maddocks or Tom Banks are more than capable of filling in for the injured Folau.

“I thought he did OK out there when he went on,” Cheika said of Maddocks.

“I haven’t had a good look at it but he wouldn’t have been on the bench if we didn’t think he was ready to play.

“He got a few touches and got a try as well so, yeah, I would imagine he would be there.

“We’ve also got Tom Banks, who’s an out-and-out full-back so we’ll see where we end up.”

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