Rugby Championship
Double injury blow for Australia
ESPN Staff
August 7, 2013
Australia hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, Wallabies training session, Stade de France, Paris, November 9, 2012
Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau has been ruled out for a further fortnight with a hamstring problem © Getty Images
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Australia have been dealt a double blow on the eve of their Rugby Championship opener against New Zealand later this month with the news that hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau and lock Peter Kimlin have both ruled out with injuries.

Polota-Nau has been unable to overcome an existing hamstring issue and will therefore continue to spend the next fortnight rehabilitating the injury meaning he will miss the August 17 showdown with the All Blacks in Sydney with his participation in the return clash the following weekend in Wellington also in doubt. Wellington-born Reds front rower Albert Anae - who can play hooker and prop has been called into the extended training squad as a result.

Kimlin will be sidelined for up to six weeks after it was determined he would undergo surgery on a broken thumb, which he suffered in the Brumbies' Super Rugby semi-final victory over the Bulls last month.

"It's always disappointing to lose players through injury but in Tatafu's case we don't expect him to be out long and he will still play a large part in our upcoming campaign," said Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie.

"What his injury has done though is open the door for Albert to take up an opportunity. Albert is still young for a front-rower but his versatility is a real asset, while he also possesses the appropriate size and strength to adapt positively to the new scrum laws.

"You're always searching for players with a lot of potential and Albert is a guy who will learn plenty from being part of the national environment."

The Wallabies will announce their final squad of up to 30 players at the conclusion of the training camp on Friday.

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