Karmichael Hunt has been ruled out of the Wallabies’ opening Bledisloe Cup Tests after undergoing ankle surgery.

The June Test debutant is expected to be sidelined for two months, which means he’ll miss Australia’s first four Rugby Championship clashes, including the first two Bledisloe Cup encounters in Sydney and Dunedin in August.

The return of Kurtley Beale from overseas will greatly soften the blow as he was expected to take over at inside centre after Hunt started there last month.

Hunt’s Queensland Reds teammate, winger Eto Nabuli is also struggling with an ankle injury and has been ruled out of the entire Rugby Championship after he made his Test debut in June.

Back-up hooker Tolu Latu is also missing from the Wallabies’ train-on squad gathered in Newcastle for fitness and conditioning work as he remains troubled by a pinched nerve in his neck, with no return date set.