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RAIN and injury clouds continued to unhappily linger over key Wallabies at their London training base overnight.
Star trio David Pocock, Israel Folau and Scott Sio played next-to no part in Australian training sessions and remain in considerable doubt to play against Argentina in the World Cup semi-final on Monday.
Pocock (calf strain) didn’t train, but instead rode an exercise bike, while Folau ran for a short while before leaving the field and icing his injured ankle again.
Sio (elbow) also participated briefly but appears to be in major doubt to line up against the Pumas.
David Pocock is restricted to working on the stationary bike during a Wallabies training session.
David Pocock is restricted to working on the stationary bike during a Wallabies training session.Source:Reuters
Coach Michael Cheika has conveyed an optimistic tone this week about Pocock and Folau, and said he’ll give them both as long as possible to prove their fitness.
The indications are that Sio’s elbow is more serious but he will not be replaced.
But with the Wallabies having a day off on Thursday, Pocock and Folau would likely have only one more chance to engage in their first full training session on Friday and be a chance of making the team — which is named on Saturday morning (AEDT).
Kurtley Beale and Ben McCalman would keep their roles at fullback and no. 8 in the event of both being ruled out, while James Slipper is in line to step up for Sio.
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