SAINT ETIENNE – Max Jorgensen is set to be ruled out of the Rugby World Cup ahead of their crunch Test against Wales on Sunday (Monday, 5am AEST) in Lyon.
The Roar understands the 19-year-old suffered an ankle injury at training on Wednesday, with the outside back landing awkwardly after leaping into the air to take a high ball.
The initial fear is the Waratahs back has a syndesmosis or fractured ankle.
Jorgensen had been pushing hard for selection after recovering from a knee-injury suffered against the Crusaders in May.
Max Jorgensen is set to be ruled out of the Rugby World Cup, with the 19-year-old suffering an injury at the Wallabies’ training ground at Stade Roger Baudras on August 31, 2023 in Saint-Etienne. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
It’s unlikely Jorgensen would have been in the Wallabies’ starting side to take on Wales in what shapes as a must-win clash to keep their World Cup knockout hopes alive following their 22-15 loss to Fiji. Australia have never not reached the final eight in the previous nine editions.
But had he debuted throughout the campaign, he would have been the youngest Wallaby to appear at a World Cup.
Jones could turn several directions with who to call up.
With captain Will Skelton (calf) and tight-head prop Taniela Tupou (hamstring) likely to be unavailable until the quarter-finals, Jones could look to strengthen his front-row stocks given the hiding at the scrum in the second half against Fiji.
But it could also pave the way for Jones to bring back some experience at either fly-half or fullback, with rookie fly-half Carter Gordon struggling against Fiji.
Could Max Jorgensen’s injury pave the way for Tom Wright to return? (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
James O’Connor won’t be on the selection radar.
The Roar can reveal O’Connor flew home to Australia after suffering a knee-injury recently for the Barbarians.
Bernard Foley remains in Europe, having last featured for Australia A during their 30-17 win over Portugal.
Discarded fullback Tom Wright, meanwhile, has featured prominently for both Australia A and the Barbarians during their tour of the United Kingdom.
Wright was cut by Jones following the Wallabies’ defeats to South Africa and Argentina but has shown his attacking prowess over the past month since being one of more than a dozen players selected by the national boss to go on the Barbarians tour.
Jones doesn’t have to make a decision immediately. Indeed, South Africa waited several days before they announced fly-half Handre Pollard as hooker Malcolm Marx’s replacement.
Christy Doranhttps://https://ift.tt/5xORtA3 Wallabies young gun set to be ruled out of Rugby World Cup ahead of crunch Wales Test
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