Wallabies can cope with changes: McMahon

Wallabies flanker Sean McMahon says the likely absence of Will Genia and potentially Dean Mumm won’t affect the side’s preparations for Saturday’s Test (Sunday, 0130 AEDT) against England.

McMahon is in line to slot into the starting line-up to replace Mumm should he lose a citing hearing following his lifting tackle on Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong in the Wallabies loss in Dublin last weekend.

Mumm will front a World Rugby disciplinary committee hearing in London on Tuesday. (Wednesday AEDT)

Team officials are privately fearing the worst with the NSW Waratah facing his second suspension in five weeks, having already missed the tour opener against Wales for elbowing All Blacks second-rower Brode Retallick.

With the Twickenham clash falling outside the official Test window, Genia’s French club Stade Francais are under no obligation to release him to play and have rebuffed an initial approach from former coach, Wallabies mentor Michael Cheika.

Should the ARU fail with a second attempt Mike Phipps will deputise just as he did in the win over Wales.

Players being withheld from Test duty is becoming a recurring problem for the Wallabies with more and more stars set to ply their trade in Europe’s cash-laden competitions.

However, McMahon said there’s no issue in maintaining squad chemistry when the likes of Genia, Drew Mitchell and Matt Giteau have been forced to drop in and out of the side.

“We’ve played with Will quite a lot and players like Drew and Matt that come in,” McMahon said.

“We build ourselves around our identity and they just slot right back in really and we just get on with everyday, getting out on the field every day at training.

“You know them, you play through the entire season in Super Rugby, so it doesn’t really make a difference, you’d know how they’re playing.

“It does take a bit, it takes one session before you’re reading each other again so it’s not really too big of an issue.”

Should Mumm miss the match McMahon is ready to face a powerful but potentially depleted England back-row that will be without star No.8 Billy Vunipola, alongside the already absent James Heskell.

“Obviously it’s disappointing that he’s been cited for the incident but if the opportunity comes my way I’ll take it with both hands,” McMahon said.

“England has a very strong back row, it’s a very strong forward pack.

“It obviously does help when you have a player like Poey (David Pocock) over the ball, just getting it back for you but they’re a hard-running backrow, so it’s still going to have to step up from both sides.”

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