After sending six players home with injuries, Australia will put the onus on periphery players to redeem themselves in the season-ending test against Wales.
Following the weekend’s 13-10 defeat to Ireland in Dublin, loose forward Rob Valetini and scrumhalf Nic White have joined the already ruled-out quintet of Andrew Kellaway, Hunter Paisami, Dave Porecki, and Taniela Tupou on the injured list.
Valetini was hampered by an ankle injury, while White was knocked out.
Though White passed his first head impact exam on game day, his injury was later upgraded, resulting in a 12-day stand-down term, according to Rugby Australia.
Tupou will undergo tests for a possible ruptured Achilles tendon, which casts some doubt on his participation in the World Cup in France in 2014.
Due to the injuries, under-pressure coach Dave Rennie will have to reassign some of the bench players that embarrassed Australia by losing to Italy in Florence a little over a week ago.
On their trip to the northern hemisphere, Australia lost three out of four games, all by small margins.
“I can guarantee there will be guys itching for another opportunity after the Italy effort,” Rennie said after Ireland.
In addition, Wales will be anxious to end the season on a good note following their shocking home loss to Georgia.
