Injuries hit Wallabies ahead of South Africa Test
A raft of injuries has weakened the Wallabies ahead of this weekend's Rugby Championship opener against the Springboks in Johannesburg, with Christian Lealiifano among six players sent back to Australia.
Lealiifano failed to recover from a shoulder injury and will head home alongside fellow casualties Scott Sio (adductor) and Tom Robertson (ankle), the Wallabies announced late Wednesday.
In addition, Marika Koroibete is returning to Melbourne after the birth of his second child, while Jack Maddocks and Rob Valetini were no longer required in South Africa and were released for club duties.
The Wallabies said prop Harry Johnson-Holmes would join the squad in Johannesburg ahead of Saturday's Test at Ellis Park.
The Australians are already without injured talisman David Pocock for their first Test since star fullback Israel Folau was sacked over homophobic social media posts.
Coach Michael Cheika will name his team early Thursday South African time.
The Wallabies last won at Ellis Park in 1963 and have since lost six times at the venue, with the most recent a 53-8 drubbing in 2008.
Their last win in South Africa was in Durban in 2011, although Cheika's men managed a 27-27 draw in Bloemfontein in 2017.