Australia's Rogers may miss Tri-Nations

SYDNEY - Australia fullback Mat Rogers is to have knee surgery and could miss the Tri-Nations.

Rogers tore knee cartilage after during training last week in South Africa and was not named yesterday by coach Eddie Jones in his side for Saturday's Mandela Challenge match against South Africa in Johannesburg.

The 29-year-old will return to Australia and have an arthroscopy on the knee. He faces at least a month out.

The Springboks and Wallabies open the Tri-Nations on July 31 NZ time in Pretoria. Australia's last game in the tournament is against the Springboks in Perth on August 20.

"Frustrating is not the word," Rogers told The Australian newspaper today.

"I'm pretty fed up with it all but all I can do is go back, get the surgery done, do the rehab and then get myself fit again for selection."

New Zealand do not play their first Tri-Nations match until August 7, against the Springboks in Cape Town.

- REUTERS