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Brumbies face injury trouble ahead of Super Rugby playoffs
By AAP
The ACT Brumbies could head to their biggest test of the Super Rugby Pacific without some key personnel after a pair of Wallaby hopefuls were injured in their win against Melbourne on Friday night.
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Winger Corey Toole left the 33-17 triumph at GIO Stadium with a lower-leg injury while lock Nick Frost limped his way through a nasty knee hyperextension.
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham confirmed one of his players would likely miss next Saturday’s quarter-final against the Hurricanes, but wouldn’t reveal who that was or if there were any other injuries.
But it is likely to be explosive winger Toole, who limped down the tunnel in the hands of a team physio after appearing to hurt his ankle while scoring a try in the first half.
He’s likely to join captain Allan Alaalatoa in missing the knockout game, the prop still dealing with an ankle complaint that could even see him miss the Wallabies next match in July.
Speaking in a post-match press conference, Larkham admitted there were some players in the wars throughout the fixture.
“I haven’t actually had the chance to get back into the sheds yet (but) a few guys came off the field in a bit of pain,” he said.
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“From everything I’ve heard so far, there might be one guy that might struggle for next week, but outside of that we should be good.”
Frost was in the hands of the trainers clutching his knee for a number of minutes before returning to play, leaving on-lookers anxious he could further hurt himself and even shatter his World Cup dream.
Larkham said that thought hadn’t crossed his mind as the hulking lock continued to play, instead backing the advice of his physios.
“There was a bit of concern, particularly the way he was holding his knee, very concerned something serious had happened,” he said.
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“The physios got to him pretty quickly … and said we’re going to push through as everything structurally looks good there.
“(There was) a bit of pain there and he managed it well through the game to do the job.”
The Brumbies are certain to have veteran prop James Slipper back in the lineup after he missed Friday’s game due to the birth of his first child.
And five-eighth Noah Lolesio is also expected to play, sitting out the Rebels match with mild concussion symptoms.
