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Sept 9 (Reuters) – Australia were quickly brought back down
to earth after a morale-boosting victory over South Africa in
the Rugby Championship with world class scrumhalf Will Genia
ruled out for at least six months with a knee injury.
The Wallabies, and coach Robbie Deans, had been under
immense pressure prior to the 26-19 victory against the
Springboks in Perth on Saturday after lacklustre performances
against the All Blacks in their opening two games.
A poor first half in Perth was offset by a spirited
fightback after the break, in which their forwards scored two
tries to snatch the win, though Genia’s late injury dampened any
celebrations.
The scrumhalf, who said after the match he had heard his
knee ‘crack’, was ruled out after scans on Sunday revealed he
had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee.
“Will Genia is not there and Will Genia is a special player,
there’s no doubt,” Deans told reporters in Perth.
“But as we’ve seen in recent times it’s a team game and no
one can do it by themselves and the group that combines
effectively is more dangerous than one man.”
Genia’s injury continued the ‘captain’s curse’ for the
Wallabies this season with regular captain James Horwill
(hamstring) and his initial stand-in David Pocock (knee) already
ruled out for the rest of the southern hemisphere competition.
Continued…
