Larkham injury scare rocks Wallabies

Australia suffered a major injury scare on the eve of their crunch World Cup game against Wales when Stephen Larkham aggravated an old knee injury in training.

Larkham is rated as having a “50-50” chance of playing at the Millennium Stadium and faces a fitness test at 8 o’clock tomorrow morning.

The 33-year-old felt his right knee lock as he practised restarts at the Welsh Institute of Sport and was immediately taken to hospital for scans.

Head coach John Connolly said: “Stephen aggravated a knee injury this afternoon in training. He had scans which indicate it was an aggravation, no more than that.

“He will have a run tomorrow morning and we will make a decision after that whether he plays. At this stage it is probably 50-50 but it has settled down well.

“This close to the game you always fear the worst. It did lock up on him but it has freed up now.”

If Larkham is ruled out, head coach John Connolly indicated Queensland Reds rookie Berrick Barnes, who only made his Test debut last week, could be given his first Wallabies start.

“We have a couple of decisions. We could run with Stephen depending on how it is, we could substitute Berrick Barnes straight in or put Berrick on the bench,” said Connolly.

“Three or four weeks ago, Matt Giteau was the back-up 10 and still may be long term but he hasn’t trained there all week and has trained well at 12.

“Berrick has trained with Stephen all week and we were happy what he did last week.”

Barnes’ Test debut came off the bench in the Wallabies’ 91-3 win over Japan but Connolly insists he would have no qualms throwing the 22-year-old into the cauldron.

“We are prepared for those things,” said Connolly.

It would be a major boost for Wales coach Gareth Jenkins if Australia did have to go in without Larkham.

The Wallabies have struggled against Wales over the last two years when they have not had Larkham pulling the strings at fly-half.

He did not feature in Australia’s 24-22 defeat to Wales in 2005 and last November played an hour at inside centre in the 29-29 draw.

Larkham was also absent for the first Test this summer, when Wales came within seconds of winning in Sydney.

But he returned for the second Test in Brisbane – and Australia stormed to a comprehensive 31-0 victory.

Wales assistant coach Neil Jenkins agreed Larkham is vital to a successful Australia side – but he warned the Wallabies have other threats.

“He has been an incredible rugby player. He started off at full-back and was a great player then. Making breaks and gliding through people, he just made the game look so easy. He does the same at outside-half,” said Jenkins, the leading points-scorer in Test history.

“He is a great rugby player. He is very gutsy, gets involved, takes the ball to the line and he kicks well so he breaks the game up really well.

“Larkham and George Gregan really orchestrate of their team. They get things going. Gregan bosses it, runs at defences and puts them under pressure. The same for Larkham.

“Larkham has played 100-odd Tests for Australia which is an achievement in itself, to play for a county that loves its sport and brings players through the way they do. ”He stands out as one of the best players no doubt.

“But Australia have a very good back line full of world class players and they can all be a threat.”