MELBOURNE Rebels star Sefa Naivalu will miss the rest of the Super Rugby season after suffering a serious ankle injury on Saturday.
And the Wallabies winger is now also doubt for August’s Bledisloe Cup opener after a mid-range ankle syndesmosis injury was confirmed in the aftermath of Australia’s scrappy win against Italy at Suncorp Stadium.
CHEIKA: Wallabies will continue to attack
Having enjoyed a bright start to the match, Naivalu, 25, came off early in the second half on Saturday just minutes after scoring his second try of the match.
Michael Cheika said he would miss up to seven weeks, ruling him out of the last fortnight of Super Rugby.
But the Wallabies coach is reluctant to put a line through the Fijian-born speedster for the clash against New Zealand in Sydney on August 19.
“You would think with no intervention required, he’s got about six, seven-week return to play, which should have him back in time for first Bledisloe,” Cheika said.
Italy players Tommaso Boni and Michele Campagnaro show concern for injured Wallaby Sefa Naivalu on Saturday.Source:Getty Images
The already injury-ravaged Rebels have two matches left in their disastrous season.
In what will be coach Tony McGahan’s last matches in charge of the club, having confirmed his end-of-season departure earlier this month, the Rebels fly to Perth to take on the Western Force on July 7 before ending their campaign at home against the Jaguares from Buenos Aires on July 14.
Other Rebels involved in this month’s three-Test series — Reece Hodge, Marika Koroibete, Lopeti Timani and Toby Smith — are expected to be back Rebels at training this week.
Originally published as Injured Rebel Naivalu put on ice
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