SYDNEY: Australia centre Christian Lealiifano will miss this weekend’s Bledisloe Cup test against New Zealand because of an ankle injury in a big blow to the Wallabies’ chances of upsetting the world champions.
Lealiifano has played all nine matches this year since making his test debut against the British and Irish Lions in June and his assured place-kicking could be a major loss for the Wallabies on Saturday.
“New Zealand in their own back yard is a tough proposition, it doesn’t matter when it is, but it’s also a great challenge and we’re looking forward to it,” coach Ewen McKenzie told a news conference yesterday.
“They’ve got some very strong bits and pieces to their game but we have an idea of how we want to go about it. We’ll have a couple of changes now (flanker Scott) Fardy’s out and Lealiifano won’t make the game either.”
Lealiifano was seen climbing one of Sydney’s many steep hills soon after the news conference and said that although his right ankle was sore, he was certain he would be available to face England on November 2. REUTERS
