The Wallabies have suffered a cruel injury blow with Reece Hodge ruled out of the spring tour after fracturing an ankle.Coach Michael Cheika revealed the setback after the Wallabies arrived in Japan on Sunday ahead of Saturday's third Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks in Yokohama.Utility back Hodge, who has played all nine of Australia's Tests so far in 2018, is expected to be off his feet for at least two months, with Cheika yet to decide on a replacement for the four-match tour.Prop Angus Cottrell is also out of Bledisloe selection contention after straining a medial ligament, but he will remain with the squad and is expected to be available for the European Tests against Wales, Italy and England.Hodge
also suffered his injury in training and will fly straight home, leaving Cheika desperately short of proven outside centres as the Wallabies strive to finish what has been an otherwise disappointing year on a high.Hodge has worn the gold No.13 jumper in Australia's past six Tests in the absence of injured specialists Tevita Kuridrani and Samu Kerevi, who only made his comeback from a biceps tear during Saturday's Byron Bay Sevens.Kerevi will join the touring squad in Japan and may be forced into an international return at least via the bench against the All Blacks."He got two [sevens] games under his belt. He's on his way up here, he's had a good block of training and, yes, he'll be a little bit underdone but he's got a lot of experience as well," Cheika said.
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