The Wallabies will be forced to field another heavily depleted side against Wales on Sunday (2.15am AEDT) after five more players were injured and two stars returned to their club commitments.
Following their 13-10 defeat to Ireland in Dublin, the Wallabies confirmed the list of injured players that are heading home.
The highest profile casualty of all is Taniela Tupou, who suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon.
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That could jeopardise his Rugby World Cup hopes with the injury generally meaning a 9-12 month recovery time.
Prop Tupou missed much of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season with a calf injury.
Loose forward Rob Valetini will have his ankle scanned after getting injured early in the second half.
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Centre Hunter Paisami is another who will undergo scans.
He left the field after three minutes with a knee injury.
Hooker Dave Porecki and halfback Nic White will miss the Wales Test with concussion.
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It’s the second concussion for Porecki in just four months.
And outside back Andrew Kellaway will also return to Australia where he will undergo scans for a suspected fracture of his fifth metatarsal.
The latest throng of injuries comes after centre Lalakai Foketi and fullback Tom Banks went down with shin and ankle injuries respectively.
Compounding the selection issues, five-eighth Bernard Foley and lock Will Skelton will be unavailable for Sunday’s match as they return to their club sides.
The Wallabies went into their tour without five-eighth Quade Cooper, centre Samu Kerevi and prop Angus Bell, who all suffered injuries in the Rugby Championship.
Outside struck down by injury this season include Izaia Perese, Folau Fainga’a, Lachie Swinton, Ned Hanigan, Noah Lolesio, Cadeyrn Neville, Izack Rodda, Matt Philip, Rob Leota and Allan Alaalatoa.
“The medics are going to be busy,” Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said.
“It’s a collision sport and a number of those were from collisions. We’re still assessing things. Definitely four of those guys are out and Bobby (Valetini) is likely to be out.”
It’s perhaps not all doom and gloom, however.
Given the sheer quantity of players out with injury, it begs the question of how good the Wallabies might be at full strength.
The Wallabies haven’t been woeful on their tour with the first three matches decided by one point.
“We’ll have to go into the depth of the squad again,” Rennie said.
“I can guarantee there will be guys itching for another opportunity after the Italy effort.”
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