Rugby World Cup 2011
Deans to wait on wounded Wallabies
ESPNscrum Staff
September 24, 2011
Wallabies boss Robbie Deans fields questions from the media, Garden Route Hotel, Durban, South Africa, August 8, 2011
Wallabies boss Robbie Deans is facing a mounting injury crisis © Getty Images
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Australia head coach Robbie Deans was able to give a somewhat upbeat medical report the morning after seeing six of his squad pick up injuries in Friday night's 67-5 victory over the USA in Wellington.

Rob Horne and Pat McCabe suffered the most serious injuries, with the former fracturing a cheekbone and the latter dislocating a shoulder. Deans revealed on Saturday, though, that the damage done to both was not as bad as first feared, explaining that Horne had only suffered a "minor displacement".

"That's promising," the New Zealander said. "We will do some further investigation when we get to Christchurch and make a decision when we know more.

"Patty McCabe subluxed his shoulder. There, again, we'll look at him over the next couple of days. We'll do some further investigation in Christchurch just to check on the full extent (of the damage), but that, in the first instance, doesn't appear to be as grave as it potentially could have been."

Consequently, Deans will wait before deciding whether replacements are required. Elsewhere, back-row Wycliff Palu and fullback Kurtley Beale both picked up hamstring problems, while Adam Ashley-Cooper took a knock to his ankle. All three will require further assessment, as will Anthony Faingaa, who had to be taken off on a stretcher at the end of the game after taking a heavy blow to the head. However, Deans was happy to announce that the centre had "presented very well this morning".

"He can recall everything, including the moments leading up to the tackle, so that's a great sign," the former Crusaders boss said. "But it's not something that we mess around with so we'll monitor him and just make sure he's fully recovered before he re-enters the fray."

The injuries were the last thing that Deans needed given that Digby Ioane (thumb), David Pocock (back), James Horwill (shoulder) and Scott Higginbotham (back) are all still out of action but he did confirm that they are all "progressing well" ahead of the Wallabies' final Pool game, against Russia on October 1.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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