Tuqiri's tour troubles have started
Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:20
Australia's star wing Lote Tuqiri is likely to miss the Wallabies' final Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand in Hong Kong, on November 1, as well as the year-end tour to Europe after undergoing knee surgery.
The star winger had an arthroscopy this week to remove loose knee cartilage and may be on the sidelines for up to six weeks before returning to full training.
Tuqiri told News Limited he would be touch and go for the six-match tour with the Wallabies departing on October 27.
"I'll be liaising with doctors but it will depend on how I'm personally feeling," he told The Daily Telegraph.
"You have to think about long-term damage, I don't want to push myself and hurt it even more."
Tuqiri will be named in the 33-man squad next Tuesday, but will be monitored by Australian Rugby Union (ARU) medical staff.
After the Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand in Hong Kong - a dead rubber, with the All Blacks already having retained the trophy - the Wallabies then head to Europe, where they play Tests against Italy, France, Wales and England before playing the Barbarians at Wembley.
Tuqiri has gone on every Wallabies tour since switching from Rugby League to Rugby Union, and he may benefit from the extra time off.
The injury raises another potential selection headache for coach Robbie Deans, who flies back from Christchurch on Saturday to watch the Shute Shield grand final. Departed stars Rocky Elsom and Dan Vickerman - both departed to the Northern Hemisphere for new careers - are also out of the six-week trip.
