Brutal injury rules Wallabies prospect out for a year

A brutal knee injury will rule NSW Waratahs fullback Will Harrisson out for a year – according to head coach Darren Coleman.

Harrison sustained the injury in his side’s defeat against the Chiefs at AAMI Park in Melbourne as part of the inaugural Super Round. The Tahs went down to the Chiefs 51-27 on Friday night.

Fox Sports’ Christy Doran reports that scans have revealed that the 22-year-old has done extensive damage to his ACL, MCL and his patella.

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He will have to undergo knee construction surgery and will likely be out for at least a year.

“He’s obviously gutted,” said Coleman. “But he’s got his head around the rehab and he’ll try to get back for the start of next year.”

It’s a major setback for the youngster, who was previously included in a Wallabies squad back in 2020. Harrison is one of the most accurate kickers in Australian rugby.

The injury comes just days after Wallabies and Reds’ star James O’Connor’s season was potentially ended – again by a nasty knee injury.

As well as youngster, Waratahs hooker Dave Porecki and his back-up Tom Horton both suffered head knocks which meant uncontested scrums for the final 35 minutes of the game.

Skipper Jake Gordon did his best to drag his team to an unlikely victory, scoring two tries as they fought back strongly, but a horror opening 20 minutes proved telling for the courageous Tahs.

“I’d prefer not to sort of make excuses around that,” he said Coleman, when reflecting on their loss to the Chiefs.

“The difference between us and Kiwis at the moment, is that last 15 to 20 minutes and that’s the biggest thing we need to improve.

“I’m proud of their fight and their character but we’ve got to get better in the last 20 minutes and that’s the next progression for us as a team.”

additional reporting AAP