Another Wallabies star under injury cloud for Bledisloe Cup opener against All Blacks

The Wallabies could head into the Bledisloe Cup opener next week without four of their biggest stars, with prop Taniela Tupou under an injury cloud for the first clash with New Zealand in Melbourne, reports stuff.co.nz

The Wallabies were left counting the cost of defeat against a brutal Springboks side in Sydney on Saturday night, in which Noah Lolesio and Hunter Paisami both left the field with head knocks. The Wallabies are hopeful both will be available for the Thursday night Bledisloe Cup opener at Marvel Stadium, but James O’Connor may earn a recall to the squad this week as cover.

Whether Tupou plays against the All Blacks will depend on scans on a calf on Monday, after the giant prop tweaked his calf while warming up during the first half. Tupou was set to come off the bench in Saturday’s Test but took no part in the game.

It is not the same calf Tupou injured earlier in the year, which ruled him out for 10 weeks from the start of May to early July. READ MORE