Wallabies fullback Andrew Kellaway will miss Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test match against the All Blacks in Auckland, ruled out with a calf strain.
Kellaway is the second Wallaby ruled out with a calf strain for the Test, round five of the Rugby Championship, after forward Rob Valetini was ruled out last weekend.
He is also the second starting fullback to be ruled out during the Rugby Championship after Tom Wright suffered an ACL injury during the Wallabies’ second match against South Africa.
Kellaway started the two Tests at fullback since Wright’s injury, a win and a loss against Argentina, after starting the international campaign coming off the bench.
The Wallabies team will be named on Thursday, and despite losing his first and second-choice fullbacks, coach Joe Schmidt still has options.
Western Force outside back Harry Potter has played five Tests since debuting for the Wallabies last November against Scotland.
Potter started three Tests for the Wallabies in 2025, but injured his hamstring during the second Test against the Lions at the MCG.
Schmidt could also elect to go with 21-year-old rising star Max Jorgensen.
The NSW Waratahs outside back has made an impact in his 15 matches for the Wallabies, debuting against the Springboks in August 2024.
Max Jorgensen has made an impressive start to his international career, with crucial tries in his 15 Test caps. (AP Photo: Rick Rycroft)
Jorgensen announced himself on the world stage with an 83rd-minute match-winner against England at Twickenham, and two tries during the Lions series.
Speaking to media on Tuesday ahead of what potentially could be his first Bledisloe Cup match, Jorgensen said playing against the All Blacks would be a major milestone in his career.
“It’s such a big game. Every game counts, and if given the opportunity this week at the play-in, it would be a dream come true,” Jorgensen said.
“Yeah, it’s definitely a challenge, but it’s an exciting one.
“I think for our group, coming back off a couple of games as a team to get the opportunity to play at Eden Park against a team like the All Blacks, it’s always cool.
“They’re a world-class team, they’ve always been good and always will be.”
Australia has not held the Bledisloe Cup since losing the trophy to the All Blacks in 2003.
The Wallabies have not won at Eden Park since 1986, while the All Blacks have not been defeated at the venue since 1994.
But the Wallabies come into Saturday afternoon’s Test with plenty of confidence.
Since defeating the British and Irish Lions in the third Test in Sydney, the Wallabies broke a 62-year hoodoo at Ellis Park in Johannesburg with a famous win over the Springboks and a come-from-behind win over Argentina in Townsville.
The Wallabies are coming off a loss in their second Test against Argentina, coming from 21 points behind in the second half to narrowly lose 28-26 in Sydney.
With history not on the Wallabies’ side, Jorgensen said each member of the Wallabies team was well aware of the challenge that awaits them on Saturday.
“It’s pretty known within the group, and it really gives us a good opportunity this weekend to go out and win it back,” he said.
“It’s always been a massive rivalry, the Bledisloe Cup. Watch it growing up, [I] always dreamt of playing in something like the Bledisloe Cup, and if given the opportunity, it would be awesome.”
The All Blacks are coming off a loss, hammered by the Springboks 43-10 in Wellington.
Australia is on top of the Rugby Championship standings with 11 points, followed by South Africa and New Zealand on 10, and Argentina on 9.
The Wallabies and All Blacks face each other home and away to end the championship.
The Springboks and Pumas will also play each other home and away in the final two rounds.