Rugby Championship
Genia sidelined for six months
ESPN Staff
September 9, 2012
Injured Wallabies skipper Will Genia cuts a forlorn figure, Australia v South Africa, Rugby Championship, Subiaco Oval, Perth, Australia, September 8, 2012
Will Genia has played his last game for 2012 © Getty Images
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Wallabies skipper Will Genia will be out for action for the rest of the year after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament against South Africa.

Genia went down with 11 minutes remaining in Saturday's 26-19 victory over the Springboks in their Rugby Championship clash on Saturday. Scans on Sunday morning revealed the extent of the damage to his right knee, which will force the scrum-half out of the game for six months.

The injury follows that of regular captain James Horwill and his replacement skipper David Pocock. Genia will be replaced by Western Force's Brett Sheehan, while Nick Phipps of the Rebels is expected to start in the No. 9 jersey against Argentina next Saturday.

Coach Robbie Deans lamented the loss of Genia, but insists Phipps is capable of stepping up.

"I don't think we'll have a formal leader any more ... every person we've given the title to has broken so we might just have someone lead the group out the tunnel and we might have a meeting with a few good men on Monday morning to discuss the week.

"Will Genia is not there and Will Genia is a special player, there's no doubt. But as we've seen in recent times it's a team game and no one can do it by themselves and the group that combines effectively is more dangerous than one man," said Deans.

Meanwhile, Sitaleki Timani is also unlikely to play against the Pumas after suffering a grade one hamstring injury in the South Africa match. Rob Simmons or Kane Douglas will replace Timani if he is unable to participate.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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