Wallabies suffer serious injuries in win
December 04, 2008 - 1:58pm
Story by: AAP
Serious injuries to props Matt Dunning and Sekope Kepu overshadowed an eye-catching debut from rising star James O'Connor as the Wallabies' 2008 Spring Tour came to a bittersweet end.
Dunning snapped an Achilles tendon and NSW Waratahs teammate Kepu tore a pectoral muscle in the same scrum as the Wallabies scored a torrid 18-11 victory over the star-studded Barbarians in the first Rugby match played at Wembley Stadium.
Both players are likely to miss the entire 2009 Super 14 season.
Dunning and Kepu were both hurt in the same scrum early in the second half.
When Dunning slipped he brought the Australian front row down with him, resulting in Kepu's arm ripping back and tearing his chest muscle.
"It's the worst part of the game, injuries, and they're pretty significant injuries both of them," said Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.
"To have it happen in the last outing, just before the break, won't be something that they're enjoying.
"But they're resilient characters and they've got great habits and discipline in the way they go about their work, so they're definitely capable of coming back.
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© 2008 AAP

By Darren Walton