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The Wallabies were hoping to start 2024 with a bang, but were dealt a blow when star center Len Ikitau suffered an injury ahead of the first Test match of the season against Wales.
Less than 24 hours after Randwick’s Kurtley Beale suffered a serious injury in Saturday’s Shute Shield, roar It has been revealed that Ikitau – the Brumbies’ stylish outside center – will miss Wales’ opener due to a hamstring injury.
The 25-year-old, who played the last of his 28 Tests against Argentina before missing the rest of the Rugby Championship with a shoulder injury, is understood to have suffered a setback in training with the Wallabies late last week.
Len Ikitau suffered a hamstring injury during Wallabies training last week. (Photo credit: Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images)
Jordan Petaia wore the number 13 shirt throughout the Wallabies’ first three World Cup games, and outside center Izaia Perez, who moves to Leicester, played that role in the win over Portugal, but Schmidt has a new option for Saturday’s first game against Wales. You will have to turn your attention to .
Injuries could give Josh Flook, an outside center specialist and one of the most solid players in Australian rugby, a chance after years of being around the starting pitchers.
He is likely to come under pressure from new Reds team-mate Filippo Daugunno, who previously played mainly as a winger but has now donned the number 13 shirt more and enjoyed a memorable year for the Levels.
The collaboration between Fluke and Hunter Paisami could yield meaningful results.
David Feliaui, a late bloomer at 27 who started his professional career in Romania before getting his chance in Melbourne, is another option, as is tough-minded Force midfielder Hamish Stewart.
Josh Flook is likely to battle Filipo Daugunu for the number 13 jersey following Len Ikitau’s injury. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Andrew Kellaway has also been tapped to play outside center, but it’s more likely that Schmidt’s starting trio will include a regular outside back.
The revelation comes just hours after Beale, who was one of four players released from the Wallabies’ initial 38-man squad, suffered a life-threatening injury during Randwick’s 50-37 win over Eastern Suburbs.
Beale came off the bench but was helped off the pitch in the 59th minute with what appeared to be an Achilles injury.
Meanwhile, Reds duo Ryan Smith and Harry Wilson also left the Wallabies camp.
Wilson was unlikely to feature against Wales in Sydney after breaking his arm against the Rebels midway through the Super Rugby season.
Schmidt has several options to fill the number 8 jersey, including current John Eales medalist Rob Valetini, his Brumbies team-mate Charlie Cale and the option of Waratah backrower Langi Gleeson.
Smith’s exclusion is more surprising.
The hard-working 27-year-old was called up for the first time alongside United team-mates Angus Blythe, Nick Frost and Lucan Salakaia-Loto.
Force captain Jeremy Williams is likely to be seen more as a blindside flanker option but could also feature in the second row.
After a two-day break, the Wallabies will regroup in Sydney on Sunday morning.
