Jillaroos coach Jess Skinner will have a tough selection task on her hands for the Pacific Cup final as starting hooker Keeley Davis is ruled out due to a dislocated shoulder.
Davis lasted just shy of two minutes on the field against New Zealand in Australia’s 10-4 win in the third round of the Pacific Championships on Sunday, as she went down in the back of play with a suspected elbow injury.
Davis was attempting to bring down Kiwi prop Tiana Davison when her arm got caught in an awkward position around her rival’s body, causing her to fall out of the tackle.
Australian trainers soon after confirmed that Davis had dislocated her shoulder. It remains unclear if she will require surgery.
But Allana Ferguson noted that pressure will now build on Quincy Dodd to perform, with Australia’s bench primarily built around the forward pack.
“You could see on her face from the get go that she was in a lot of strife,” Ferguson said of Davis at half time.
“It will put a lot of pressure on Quincy Dodd, who will likely now have to play a full Test match at dummy half.
“It will be interesting to see what Jess Skinner does not only to the rotations but with the outside backs [for the final].”
“She didn’t finish the season because she had ankle surgery,” Fittler added of Dodd.
‘It will be a real big test.”