Wallabies' Alaalatoa to miss World Cup after MCG injury

By: Melissa Woods Time published 2023-07-29 at 09:05 PM (GMT +10:00)

Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa has been stretchered off the MCG with a ruptured Achilles ruling him out of Rugby World Cup in France in September.

ALLAN ALAALATOA of the Wallabies passes during The Rugby Championship Bledisloe Cup match between the Australian Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Australia.
ALLAN ALAALATOA of the Wallabies passes during The Rugby Championship Bledisloe Cup match between the Australian Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Australia. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

Star Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa will miss the Rugby World Cup after he was stretchered off the MCG during the Bledisloe Cup clash with New Zealand.

With three minutes remaining in the first half and the Australians trailing 12-7, the prop's leg got caught as a scrum went to ground with Alaalaota appearing in obvious pain.

He was seen on the field post-match on crutches.

Coach Eddie Jones confirmed the 29-year-old had suffered a serious injury which will rule him out of the tournament in France, starting early September.

"He's got a fairly serious injury I would suggest, an Achilles," Jones said after the match.

The prop was leading the team with the two Wallabies' co-captains off the field.

James Slipper started on the bench while Michael Hooper is sidelined with a calf injury.

The Wallabies also lost Alaalatoa's replacement Taniela Tupou midway through the second half with a rib injury.

He's unlikely to be available for the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Dunedin next Saturday while Jones confirmed Hooper would also remain in Australia.