Digby Ioane's injury opens up number 13 spot for Wallabies - Rugby World Cup News
The thumb injury to Wallabies winger, Digby Ioane, has provided the selectors a solid reason to apply a new face to the number 13 position against Ireland. Digby Ioane sustained a thumb injury during their Rugby World Cup opener against Italy on September
11. Further examination of the hand revealed that the player would require surgery to overcome the injury. A spokesman for Wallabies confirmed the causality on September 12 and said that Ioane will be operated on. However, the time frame of his return remains
unclear. Drew Mitchell could be the man to replace to him at wingers’ position on September 17.
Ioane was given a starting role in the Wallabies side in their Rugby World Cup campaign opening clash against Italy but forced to leave the field in the 60th minute of the match due to a thumb injury. Initially, the causality looked ordinary but
later on it proved a serious blow for the Wallabies as the winger could now be available in the last few games of ongoing global show.
Ioane has been around the Wallabies since 2007 and participated in 11 international matches for his side. The 26-year-old Ioane has become a first choice winger for the Wallabies selectors for this particular tournament and now they will be required to put
a new face in the position.
Adam Ashley-Cooper along with Anthony Faingaa, James O’Connor and Drew Mitchell are the possible options for Wallabies selectors to replace Ioane. The player deployed on this position will be facing the veteran campaigner from Ireland, Brian O’Driscoll,
in their upcoming clash.
Cooper, one of the candidates for the position, talked the media and said that, “I'm sure whoever gets the 13 jersey this week will be very excited to face Brian. Because that's what you want to do. If you want to be the best you've got to compete against
the best and Brian has been on top of his game for so long he's regarded as one of the best centres in the world.”
Wallabies and Ireland will meet on September 17 in Auckland in their second match of Rugby World Cup 2011.
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