Scott Staniforth, the blazing and the most reliable player with whom the Wallabies have never lost their half a dozen Tests, faces World Cup exit due to bad bruising to his joint. The team now badly lacks depth at inside centre, with key reserves depart ahead of Saturday’s high-pressure quarter-final game against England.
Sensing it as a major blow, Coach John Connolly said,
He’ll be out this weekend and we’ll make a decision on his future at the tournament after Saturday. Scott’s important to us because of his flexibility, being able to play 12 and on the wing which helps our bench a great deal. He is a loss.
Already losing wing Mark Gerrard and backrower David Lyons for the tournament while fly-half Stephen Larkham is a doubt as he returned to the training field following his second knee operation and may be fit to return in the semi-finals, should Australia progress.
Although Wallabies are strong favorites for quarters, the Webb Ellis Cup holders, England cannot be undervalued.
Potentially, the far more worrying concern for Wallabies is the appointment of the Irish referee Alain Rolland, who has been appointed to control their crucial match, whereas the Wallabies have clearly struggled to come to terms with him and have lost all three games under him.
Well, for the moment things not going the way as the Wallabies had expected nevertheless, self-assurance and composure to play the game at this stage will positively get them through to the end.
Via: BBC
