Wallabies fullback Andrew Kellaway will miss Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test match against the All Blacks in Auckland, ruled out with a calf strain.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The Wallabies team will be named on Thursday, and despite losing his first and second-choice fullbacks, coach Joe Schmidt still has options.<\/p>\n
Western Force outside back Harry Potter has played five Tests since debuting for the Wallabies last November against Scotland.<\/p>\n
Potter started three Tests for the Wallabies in 2025, but injured his hamstring during the second Test against the Lions at the MCG.<\/p>\n
Schmidt could also elect to go with 21-year-old rising star Max Jorgensen.<\/p>\n
The NSW Waratahs outside back has made an impact in his 15 matches for the Wallabies, debuting against the Springboks in August 2024.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Max Jorgensen has made an impressive start to his international career, with crucial tries in his 15 Test caps. (AP Photo: Rick Rycroft)<\/p>\n
Jorgensen announced himself on the world stage with an 83rd-minute match-winner against England at Twickenham, and two tries during the Lions series.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“Yeah, it’s definitely a challenge, but it’s an exciting one.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“They’re a world-class team, they’ve always been good and always will be.”<\/p>\n
Australia has not held the Bledisloe Cup since losing the trophy to the All Blacks in 2003.<\/p>\n
The Wallabies have not won at Eden Park since 1986, while the All Blacks have not been defeated at the venue since 1994.<\/p>\n
But the Wallabies come into Saturday afternoon’s Test with plenty of confidence.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n