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More concerns for Deans

Image: Deans: Realistic about injuries

Australia coach Robbie Deans has been rocked by news James Horwill and Lote Tuqiri could miss the games against South Africa.

Horwill and Tuqiri join Elsom and Ashley-Cooper on sidelines

Australia coach Robbie Deans has been rocked by news James Horwill and Lote Tuqiri could miss the games against South Africa. The Wallabies are already missing Rocky Elsom and Adam Ashley-Cooper - and could now be without two more key players. With three Tri-Nations games still left the Wallabies will travel to South Africa for back-to-back Tests before returning home to finish their campaign against the All Blacks. "Rocky's still got a boot on for a ligament strain, tear, and he'll start running again shortly but the likelihood is he won't be available to us till the second game in Africa," Deans told the Wallabies official site. "And Adam has had an operation on a broken bone in his hand and he's in a similar predicament. He won't be available till the second game it appears." Ashley-Cooper is confident that, despite his broken hand suffered tackling All Blacks lock Ali Williams in the first half at Eden Park, he will be able to play a part in South Africa. "It's been a week since surgery, the swelling's down, it's recovering really well actually, the doctor's really confident that it should be good to go for the second game in South Africa," he said.

Bruising

Without Elsom at the opening game both Horwill and Tuqiri too are in doubt for the Test in Durban. "Jimmy Horwill's had some bruising. He potentially may not be available till the second game but I understand - I haven't caught up with him yet - I understand he's very positive so we'll have to wait and see," Deans said. "Lote has had a specialist visit around his knee and he may require an operation at some point. We'll just have to see how positive he is about his circumstance because essentially it hasn't changed a lot, I understand. "He's had a knee niggle, a knee complaint for a while now. If he's positive then he may well carry on and look at getting a clean up done later if it's impacting on his ability to train and play then we may have to seek an operation earlier." Regarding the injuries at such an important part of the season Deans was very realistic. "They're part of the territory. You've just got to roll with them. We'll have 22 fit blokes come kick-off time and they'll be well prepared and keen," he said. Absentees from the session due to 'flu, skipper Stirling Mortlock and centre partner Berrick Barnes, are expected to travel with the 28-man squad on Friday.