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Wallabies will call on second row reinforcements after losing two against Japan
By Ben Smith
Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt concedes he will have to call up reinforcements after suffering a double blow in the second row against Japan in Tokyo.
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Lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and reserve lock Josh Canham went down in the opening 20 minutes, forcing captain and blindside flanker Nicholas Champion de Crespigny to play lock.
The Wallabies play England next weekend at Twickenham in the first leg of their European tour, which will
“With England’s strong pack, it just means that we are light in the second row, and we may need to get some reserves dug out from Australia,” the Wallabies coach said.
“Josh Canham obviously won’t be available next week and as yet I don’t have any feedback on Lukhan.”
There were four locks named in the initial end of year touring squad, Jeremy Williams who was the other starter in Tokyo and Nick Frost.
Having lost two of them for next week, the Wallabies will need to find at least one more for the clash against England.
Australia ‘A’, who played against Japan XV a fortnight ago, fielded Matt Philip and Darcy Swain, two capped Wallabies, as well as Canham and Ryan Smith.
With November’s international window starting next weekend, Will Skelton could potentially be called upon out of the Top 14.
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Last year, Skelton played against Wales and Scotland across the third and fourth weeks of the window however this year, La Rochelle’s only break in November is the 17th, when Australia play Ireland in Dublin.
Loose forward Tom Hooper has filled the role this year for Schmidt, and is currently at Exeter Chiefs along with Len Ikitau.
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