Rugby: Burke adds to Wallabies' woes

By WYNNE GRAY

The Wallabies' injury woes doubled yesterday with fullback Matthew Burke ruled out of rugby for the next six weeks.

Burke was hurt in the interstate duel between the Waratahs and Reds - won by the Reds 19-14 - and yesterday x-rays revealed the fullback had some serious left-ankle ligament damage.

His injury has further reduced the test choices for coach Rod Macqueen, as he sifted the talent for Wednesday's announcement of his opening squad to prepare for Australia's first test against Argentina on June 17.

Tighthead prop Patricio Noriega is out of the sport for six months because he needs shoulder surgery. Finding a front-row substitute is now doubly difficult for Macqueen.

The Reds' Chris Latham was voted the best Super 12 player in Australia and he, probably, would have been picked as the Wallabies starting fullback with Burke on the wing to use his goalkicking skills.

Now Macqueen must decide whether he will select someone such as centre Stirling Mortlock to cover the goalkicking or whether he will revert to captain John Eales.

Eales himself was also hurt in the interstate clash, bruising his thigh. And British-bound Tim Horan's head knock may end his plans to play in his farewell Ballymore match tomorrow against the Brumbies.