The Wallabies will be without injured superstar Israel Folau when they attempt to win in Auckland for the first time in 1986 and avoid a 16th straight year of Bledisloe Cup despair.
Folau departed ANZ Stadium on crutches after suffering an ankle injury midway through the second half of last night's crushing 38‑13 loss to the All Blacks in game one at ANZ Stadium.
Folau was not in attendance as the Wallabies arrived in Sydney airport to fly out this morning.
The three‑times John Eales Medallist cut a dejected figure as he hobbled off, leaving young guns Jack Maddocks and Tom Banks in line to fill the champion fullback's boots at Eden Park next Saturday.
Maddocks scored Australia's only try on his Test debut after replacing winger Dane Haylett‑Petty for the final 25 minutes on last night and Cheika said he'd have no hesitation starting the 22‑year‑old should Folau be ruled out.
In the second round of the Rugby Championship the Wallabies will take on the All Blacks at 7.35pm next Saturday in Auckland while Argentina will host South Africa at 7.10pm next Sunday.
[Source: RadioNZ]
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