Mortlock’s Tri-Nations ends

Mortlock’s Tri-Nations ends

11 Aug 2009

A knee injury has ruled Australia captain Stirling Mortlock out of the remainder of the Tri-Nations.

Mortlock limped off against the Springboks at Newlands on Saturday, and scans conducted on Tuesday have revealed torn cartilage.

Mortlock will undergo knee keyhole surgery in Sydney on Wednesday and is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks.

Before the severity of the injury was known, Australia coach Robbie Deans intimated that Adam Ashley-Cooper would shift to outside centre, with James O’Connor starting at fullback for the Test against New Zealand in Sydney in a fortnight.

The Aussies’ problems were compounded with news that utility forward Peter Kimlin will be out for the same period as he is suffering from nerve damage in his shoulder.

Mark Chisholm and Kurtley Beale have been included in the Wallaby squad in light of the injuries.


9 Comments

  • 1.BLUERUGGA1: Reply to this comment
    11 Aug 2009, 11:13 am

    GREAT BIG YELLOW DRAGON!!!

  • 2.BLUERUGGA1: Reply to this comment
    11 Aug 2009, 11:15 am

    Hope he get well soon .. he is one of the best convicts ever

  • 3.Lions_Soutie: Reply to this comment
    11 Aug 2009, 11:16 am

    Alright, who tackled the poor bugger? Was it Mossie?

  • 4.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    11 Aug 2009, 11:23 am

    bad luck stirling.

    you were unfortunate that you had to play the hard buggers so soon in the tournament.

    see you next year man.

  • 5.mshiniwami: Reply to this comment
    11 Aug 2009, 11:41 am

    Still a force to be dealt even after making his pro rugby debut way back in 1999.

    A warrior.Best 13 since Frank Bunce.For totally different reasons.

    He is consinstency personified.

  • 6.klippies101: Reply to this comment
    11 Aug 2009, 12:57 pm

    dont support the convicts but mortlock is a great player
    great on defence

  • 7.Breakdown Boy: Reply to this comment
    11 Aug 2009, 15:32 pm

    Mortlock is a great player, but is past his sell by date.

  • 8.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    11 Aug 2009, 16:05 pm

    #7 Breakdown Boy: agree, wish him well in his recovery tho

  • 9.DonutDunning: Reply to this comment
    12 Aug 2009, 03:25 am

    Australia definitely going to miss him.
    Not just his linebreaking ability, but his leadership more than anything.

    I don’t see the logic in replacing him with Kurtley Beale. We already have one marshmallow flyhalf reserve in Quade Cooper, don’t need another.

    Bringing another outside back in would make more sense.
    Cam Shepherd if fit, if not then another centre like Tyrone Smith, Rob Horne or even the long-lost Morgan Turinui.

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