Wallabies injury crisis deepens

Eddie Jones

SYDNEY - Embattled Australian coach Eddie Jones is sweating on the fitness of several wounded Wallabies as he tries to piece together a "mix-and-match" backline for Saturday's Tri-Nations rugby test.

In the aftermath of Australia's 13-30 spanking by the All Blacks on Saturday, their injury crisis deepened with centre Stirling Mortlock (calf) and hooker Jeremy Paul (shoulder/neck) ruled out of the Wallabies' clash with South Africa in Perth.

First five-eighth Matt Giteau (lower back) is also in doubt and to compound matters, Giteau's understudy Lachlan Mackay, who was set to join the squad today, failed his morning medical with a knee complaint.

Jones -- whose future as Wallabies coach has come under mounting pressure after three-straight losses -- stopped short of issuing an SOS for a back-up No 10.

But with Stephen Larkham out for six months, and few internationally-experienced regular five-eighths available, Jones was relying heavily on Giteau being fit and ready come Saturday.

He was also sweating on the return of first and second-choice fullbacks Chris Latham (hamstring) and Mat Rogers (knee) as the Wallabies try to regroup from Saturday's 30-13 loss to New Zealand against a well-rested and in-form Springboks' side.

"We're very hopeful that Matt will be right to play," Jones said.

"His recovery has been pretty good and he did some light training today.

"We've got Elton Flatley who can obviously play 10, then we'll just have to look at one of the outside backs filling in there.

"We've got Matty Rogers, Mark Gerrard, plus (Clyde) Rathbone there, so we'll just look at how we can mix and match the situation.

"At training we've been mucking around with various sort of people in that position, so we'll continue to do that this weekend."

Mortlock's replacement at outside centre was also a concern, with Jones naming Rathbone, Morgan Turinui and Lote Tuqiri as all possibly No.13s.

Mortlock has been ruled out for up to a month with a calf injury, while Paul will miss at least Saturday's test after suffering nerve tissue damage around his shoulder and neck.

Jones said the hooker was a chance to play in Australia's final Tri-Nations clash against the All Blacks in Auckland on September 3.

Brendan Cannon, who replaced Paul midway through the first half of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup clash, will start at hooker against the Springboks with Stephen Moore promoted to back-up.

With so much doubt over the make-up of his backline, Jones admitted the Wallabies' gameplan for the Springboks would be to keep things simple.

"There's probably four backs that won't train today so we're going to have a very simple game plan, which may suit us in many ways."

Jones palmed off questions about his future liked a seasoned politician yesterday.

"I'm not concerned about my own future, I'm just worried about getting 22 players on the field," Jones said.

Skipper George Gregan, whose position in the team has also come under intense scrutiny, was equally evasive.

"To take on this position as captain, or as a head coach of a team like this, you have to be prepared for when you don't have such good times," Gregan said.

"The team's expected to perform, so if it doesn't you'll be under a lot of pressure.

"And being one of the leaders in the team you need to front up and be asked the questions that need to be answered for the public."

They both received the support of Jones' predecessor Rod Macqueen today.

The 1999 World Cup-winning coach, who guided Australia through its most successful years in rugby's professional era between 1997 and 2001, said Gregan's leadership and experience was vital to the team remaining focused.

- AAP