Super Rugby: Injuries mount up for Wallabies

The New South Wales Waratahs beat ACT 28-22 in Saturday’s Australian derby, tipping the Brumbies off the top of the Super Rugby table and raising injury concerns for the Wallabies ahead of their Test series against the British and Irish Lions.

Brumbies flanker George Smith, who was certain to be named in that squad and to add to his tally of 110 matches as the openside replacement for the injured David Pocock, left the field with a reported knee ligament strain. He was due to have scans yesterday to determine its severity.

“I’m not going to say (Smith) is fine,” Brumbies coach Jake White said. “He’s got a bang on the knee and there’s concern.

“Doctors don’t want to tell you the worst-case scenario, but at this point in time it looks like it might be his medial ligament. But if it’s a six-eight week injury it means he won’t be in the Lions series.”

Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, who was likely to named as understudy to Stephen Moore in the Wallabies squad, suffered a broken arm and is now also in doubt for the Lions matches.

Centre Pat McCabe played only 30 minutes before leaving the field with a knee injury while Rob Horne suffered an injured cheek. Christian Lealiifano, Australia’s likely inside centre against the Lions, suffered a corked thigh but his injury is less serious.