The Wallabies injury problems have taken another blow as prop Ben Alexander has been ruled out of the final Bledisloe Cup test with a wrist injury.
rugbyweek
Alexander is the second player to drop out of the Wallabies squad since it was announced earlier this week. Reserve hooker Saia Fainga’a withdrew after breaking his hand at training.
James Slipper was reinstated to the starting front row as Alexander’s replacement on Thursday, with Sekope Kepu covering Slipper on the reserves bench after recovering from a knee injury.
James Hanson is the new reserve hooker.
Should Hanson take the field in Brisbane, he will become the 12th player to make his international debut for Australia this year.
Revised Wallabies team: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Nick Cummins, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 Benn Robinson
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 James Slipper, 18 Kane Douglas, 19 Dave Dennis, 20 Liam Gill, 21 Brett Sheehan, 22 Drew Mitchell.