Australian captain Isaah Yeo is set to miss the second Ashes Test against England after being ruled out of the first game after just a few minutes. Yeo had the honour of captaining Australia in the first Ashes tour in 22 years with Reece Walsh leading his side to a stunning 26-6 win over England.
Although his tour got off to a horrible start after he exited the field and failed his HIA after a horror collision. Yeo had already made a strong run in the Kangaroos’ opening set, before he went into make a tackle on Dominic Young after seven minutes.
Fans have rallied around Australian captain Isaah Yeo (pictured right) now he is is set to miss the second Ashes Test having only played eight minutes of game one. (Images: Getty Images/Channel Nine)
But the two accidentally collided heads and Yeo fell to the ground clearly impacted by the head knock. And the captain made his way from the field with fans concerned for their leader after the opening stanza of the Ashes game.
Unfortunately for the Panthers star he failed his HIA and didn’t return for the game. Reuben Cotter came on in Yeo’s place at lock. And in what could be a bigger blow, Yeo is set to miss the second game with the turnaround only seven days.
Yeo’s category 1 head knock means he will not play next week and will be stood down for 11 days. He will now miss the Liverpool game and Australian officials will have to see if Yeo recovers adequately in time for the third and final contest. Harry Grant took over the captaincy role from Yeo when he left the field.
Kevin Walters may choose to anoint a different captain for the second clash, but Grant did the job well and could take over from Yeo in a week’s time. Regardless, fans were left gutted for the Panthers captain who had led by example in the build-up to the historic Wembley game.
Kevin Walters to make change after Isaah Yeo injury
Yeo’s injury appeared to be the only letdown for the Aussies on their way to a 26-6 win at Wembley. Walters could opt to make a straight swap next week and start Cotter at lock. The Cowboys and Queensland star played just short of 60 minutes having made 30 tackles during his time on the field.
One of those tackles resulted in a drop-ball from England after a trademark Cotter hit. But Walters has options for Game 2. The coach could opt to shift Patrick Carrigan to lock and bring in Keaon Koloamatangi or Lindsay Collins to the front-row. Although it appears unlikely with Cotter doing the job for the majority of the time he was on the field.
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Yeo is now in a race to be fit for the final game with Walters admitting medical staff will look after the captain and evaluate him ahead of Game 3. “Yeo is with us, but had a bad knock,” Walters said. “We have good medical staff then we will see where he is at in the next couple of days. Isaah is a tough hombre.”
Unlike Walters, England coach Shaun Wane is facing plenty of pressure to make changes. And it could start at fullback.
Shaun Wane facing pressure after Aussie mauling
Jack Welsby endured a horror night at the back for England, which was compounded after a bizarre one-on-one tackle attempt on Angus Crichton for the forward’s first try. The moment left fans absolutely baffled.
And it also prompted Phil Gould to question whether it was a mistake from Wane to leave out AJ Brimson from the side. “Well they are going to have to put the Gold Coast boy in there, and find another spot for him,” Gould said after it was mentioned Welsby had been shut out of the game.