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Taniela Tupou could be racing the clock to be fit for next year’s Rugby World Cup as Wallabies coach Dave Rennie fears his star prop has suffered a serious Achilles injury.
In the 54th minute of the loss to Ireland, Tupou received a pass off the back of a ruck but slumped to the grass and clutched the back of his knee, writhing in agony.
Tupou was swiftly carted off the field.
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His injury continued a horrific injury toll for Australia this season.
“We’ll assess the walking wounded,” Rennie told Stan Sport.
“We’ve got a fair few. Obviously, Hunter (Paisami) in the last couple of minutes, it looks like a (knee) medial (ligament). (Andrew) Kellaway with a foot injury.
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“(Rob) Valetini with a foot injury. Dave Porecki with another concussion. Taniela with what looks like an Achilles.
“They’re all pretty serious, so we’ll see how we wash up.”
Other season-ending injuries this year have included centre Samu Kerevi, who suffered an ACL tear, and playmaker Quade Cooper, who ruptured his Achilles tendon.
“In the last 15 years, I cannot remember a Wallabies season as littered with injuries as this. They cannot take a trick,” Stan Sport commentator Sean Maloney said.
“It’s not good,” added Wallabies legend Tim Horan.
Earlier this year, Tupou suffered a calf injury that ruled him out of the Super Rugby Pacific season and he later returned for the series against England.
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