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Wallaby coach Robbie Deans’ injury woes seems to be mounting as two more players have been ruled out of the November 1 test with the All Blacks in Hong Kong.
With star wing Lote Taquiri, scrumhalf Luke Burgess and No. 8 Wycliff Palu already ruled out, young forwards Peter Kimlin and Hugh McMeniman have also now been sidelined.
The injury issue is quickly turning into a crisis for Deans but the Kiwi remains upbeat ahead of a tour, he clearly believes, is an important one.
Neither Kimlin [quad strain] and McMeniman [ankle] are expected to be available for the Bledisloe Cup match-up in Hong Kong at the start of the tour and could then also still be under an injury cloud for the first leg of the European tour against Italy the following week.
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The former Crusaders boss and his Australian team have been involved in an intense pre-tour camp over the last couple of weeks and, while Deans admits the latest injuries may have come as a result of the tough sessions, he does not think regret pushing his players to their limits.
"These things happen when you are pushing the boundaries," Deans said of the injuries.
"You've always got 22 fit players you name and they are all here because we believe they offer us something, so whoever does get the call-up it will be great opportunity for them."
While some coaches in the past may have chosen to use the the end of year tour as a chance to experiment with their squad, Deans believes the this November series will prove to be an important step for him and his team and is therefore taking nothing for granted.
"Clearly we are going to require the whole group at some point in time."
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I can't help wondering what this says about the fitness and conditioning of players coming out of Aussie club and S14 teams...