Australia, still reeling from the humiliating 29-47 loss to New Zealand last week, have had injury added to the insult.
Wallaby back row forward Hugh McMeniman will miss the remainder of the Rugby Championship and also the year-end tour after being forced to withdraw with a shoulder injury.
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Medical staff on Monday re-examined a pre-existing shoulder issue McMeniman carried throughout the 2013 Super Rugby and deemed the best course of action would be a complete reconstruction.
McMeniman will undergo surgery next week in Brisbane and will be sidelined for six months.
It’s a disappointing blow for the talented 29-year-old back row forward, who was chosen in new Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie’s inaugural Test line-up in last Saturday’s opening Test – which also doubled as a Bledisloe Cup contest.
The match was his 22nd for the McMeniman, but first since he last wore the Australian jersey against Wales at Millennium Stadium back in 2008.
The Wallabies will travel to Wellington on Wednesday, ahead of Saturday’s second Bledisloe Cup encounter against New Zealand at Westpac Stadium.