OITA ¨C Australia center James O¡¯Connor has been ruled out of the Pool D clash against Uruguay in Oita at the World Cup on Saturday, while loose forwards Jack Dempsey and Lukhan Salakaia have switched jerseys due to an ¡°embroidery mishap.¡±
O¡¯Connor had suffered a corked thigh during training and was still sore on Saturday, so had been replaced by Samu Kerevi on the bench.
¡°The Wallabies have opted to take the cautious route with O¡¯Connor, bringing Samu Kerevi into the matchday 23,¡± the team said in a statement.
Australia will wear their indigenous strip for the first time at a World Cup and only the third time ever, but admitted they had already suffered a wardrobe malfunction.
¡°Backrowers Jack Dempsey and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will also be donning different jerseys in the match after an embroidery mishap,¡± the team said.
¡°Dempsey will wear the No. 6 jersey while Salakaia-Loto will don the No. 8, though both will be playing in their originally named positions.¡±
Australia is bidding to win a third World Cup in Japan and first since 1999.
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