Wallabies winger Dom Shipperley is in doubt for Australia’s next Rugby Championship clash after suffering a sickening finger injury in Saturday night’s 23-19 win over Argentina.
Shipperley suffered a dislocation and compound fracture of the middle finger on his right hand in the first half of the thrilling two-tries-all contest at Gold Coast’s Skilled Park.
The Test rookie’s bone protruded through the skin and he was sent to the blood-bin before halftime but returned to play much of the second half when the Wallabies fought back from 19-6 down.
Shipperley requires surgery but coach Robbie Deans said he would certainly be among a 28-man tour squad to be named on Tuesday.
Australia flies to South Africa on Thursday for their penultimate Rugby Championship match in Pretoria on September 30 before travelling to Argentina for their October 6 return clash in Rosario.
Deans admitted there was a possibility Shipperley would remain at home for an extra day or two, and it was unclear whether he should be risked against the Springboks.
“It (the finger) is dislocated but also it’s split as well so he’s going to need a cleanout,” Deans said. “It will take a bit to settle but he should be able to travel with us.
“It’s obviously quite nasty but he should get on the flight.”
If Shipperley missed the Pretoria clash – joining fellow Test wingers Drew Mitchell and Joe Tomane on the sidelines – it would offer out-of-favour fullback Kurtley Beale another opportunity to return to the starting 15.
Beale replaced Shipperley on the right wing at Skilled Park and kicked a wide 40m penalty goal in the dying minutes to ice the result.
Australia otherwise came through the thrilling win unscathed and will be bolstered by the returns of hooker Stephen Moore and lock Sitaleki Timani from hamstring injuries to play the Springboks.
Timani’s recovery makes for a tough second-row selection with fellow Waratahs lock Kane Douglas lauded for an “exceptional” Test debut by Deans.
“He showed he’s a Test footballer last night,” the coach said of Douglas. “It was his first outing, he hadn’t had a taste off the bench or a chance to warm to his work, and he hit the ground running – it’s a good sign.”
