As captain James Slipper spoke optimistically about their finish of season Spring Tour and Michael Hooper’s return, the Wallabies have been hit with the devastating information second-rower Matt Philip is about for an extended stint on the sidelines.

The Wallabies solely regrouped collectively on Monday night time, however have been rocked at coaching on Wednesday morning when Philip went down with a knee-injury.

The hardworking 28-year-old was pushed away on Wednesday to hospital, the place scans are anticipated to substantiate the 27-Take a look at lock has suffered an ACL harm.

It’s a surprising blow for the Wallabies, who on Wednesday night fly to Paris the place they may familiarise themselves with subsequent 12 months’s World Cup coaching base which is simply exterior Lyon. 

The Wallabies will then journey to Edinburgh forward of the primary of 5 Assessments, which will get underway towards Scotland at Murrayfield.

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It’s a mammoth tour for a squad that has been taking part in since early February and is being constructed as their very own Six Nations marketing campaign, with out the fallow weeks.

However their depth will face an early check following Philip’s harm blow.

Dave Rennie is already with out second-rowers Darcy Swain (suspension) and Will Skelton, who will be a part of the Wallabies forward of the second Take a look at towards France.

Rennie won’t pull anybody into the squad, however with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and 106-Take a look at stalwart Rob Simmons each plying their commerce in England, a cellphone name to both lock is just not past the realms of potentialities.

Simmons, 33, is likely one of the finest lineout callers in Australian rugby and Salakaia-Loto has simply joined Northampton Saints, however already there are whispers the previous Reds lock might be considering twice about his transfer.

The Wallabies will head to Europe as a fallen powerhouse, who’re out to show to themselves as a lot as anybody that they’re World Cup contenders.

It has been years since they have been feared by rival nations, with the Wallabies not successful in Dublin since 2013 whereas Wales and Scotland are on three-match successful streaks towards Australia.

The Wallabies can beat anybody on their day however consistency has been their Achilles heel lately and has led to the two-time world champions sliding to No.9 on World Rugby’s rankings.

“The Australians love an underdog particularly the Queenslanders, however we need to go there with the expectation to win as nicely,” Slipper advised reporters in Sydney on Wednesday. 

“We’re not going over there to come back second. 

“It’s all about going on the market and doing it. It’s no good me standing right here in entrance of you speaking about what I need to do, it’s about going on the market and doing it.

“I talked about earlier within the 12 months that to have a very good World Cup, you must string not less than seven video games collectively and we’ve received 5 in entrance of us now towards world-class opposition.

“It’s going to be laborious however it’s one we’re excited by and the overarching theme for us is consistency.”

The Wallabies have been given a lift by Hooper’s return.

The inspirational openside flanker, who has began 115 of 121 Assessments, was named on Sunday within the squad for the primary time since withdrawing on the eve of the Rugby Championship.

Slipper has led the facet in his absence and will nicely captain the Wallabies by way of to subsequent 12 months’s World Cup, however for now veteran prop was simply excited to see Hooper again doing what he does finest.

“Firstly, it’s simply nice to see him again,” Slipper mentioned. 

“Hoops has been an enormous a part of our crew for the very best a part of a decade if no more so. 

“Simply to have his expertise across the crew, across the squad, naturally, that’ll elevate the boys a good bit. 

“As a very good mate of his I’m actually blissful he’s again match and wholesome and that’s a very powerful factor. 

“Secondary, the captaincy, it’s in all probability in everybody’s finest curiosity if Hoops concentrates on himself – we would like him having fun with himself and being blissful. 

“I used to be blissful to take the management function for the remainder of the 12 months and no matter occurs sooner or later that may occur however my focus is on the tour and there’s a few massive video games coming.”

Whereas the Wallabies are bracing for one more robust tour, with 4 of the 5 nations they may play forward of them on the World Rugby rankings, Slipper mentioned he hoped the journey could be a springboard for subsequent 12 months’s World Cup in the identical method Michael Cheika’s first tour on cost sewed the seeds for his or her run in 2015.

“You type of need that momentum working right into a World Cup and for us it’s an amazing alternative to begin that momentum now,” he mentioned. 

“There’s plenty of video games to go earlier than the World Cup and that’s one thing that we will work on recreation in recreation out is simply hold getting higher and higher. 

“That 2014 was a little bit of a change of the guard with Cheik coming in and had a very good roll into the World Cup. 

“Hopefully we will do the identical.”

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