Burke steps in as Rogers is forced out

See what happens when impact players are asked to make too much of an impact? Mat Rogers was summoned to become something more than a substitute on Australia's autumn tour, but at the first time of starting an international the exhilarating capture from league hobbled off during last Saturday's X-rated tussle with Argentina. Yesterday, the Wallabies were forced to concede that Rogers would miss this weekend's international against Ireland and that his rib injury also looks likely to keep him from Twickenham a week later. For all but the hardest-hearted fan who witnessed the drama the utility back's blistering pace effected when coming off the bench in the summer's Tri-Nations, this was bleak news indeed.

Nobody was as frustrated as Eddie Jones. "It would have been good for Mat to get more Test match experience," the Australian coach said about the former giant of league whose union stature has been growing at an alarming rate since his swap little over a year ago. "He showed against Argentina that he has the makings of being a very good Test footballer. It's a shame with such a big game like Ireland at Lansdowne Road – it's one that I would have seen him playing in. The next 48 hours will tell us if he can recover in time to face England."

At least Jones has Matt Burke to fall back on. The New South Wales full-back – who has somehow dropped to third choice for the anchor role behind Rogers and the injured Chris Latham – has recovered from a calf problem meaning that, when Jones reveals his side today, Burke will be back in his favoured position, Stirling Mortlock will move to outside centre, leaving a gap on the wing for the huge frame of Wendell Sailor to fill. Another recent convert from the 13-man game, Sailor has not made quite the impression of Rogers, but still figures large in Jones' World Cup plans. "He'll be an exciting sight on Saturday," Jones said, but maybe not for the Irish who were still waiting to see if their wing Denis Hickie would be able to overcome a wrist sprain. A decision is expected this morning.

The majority of the injury concerns were concentrated on the Australian camp, however. Apart from Rogers, the hooker Jeremy Paul is out for Saturday as is the flanker David Lyons. Meanwhile, Lyons' fellow back-rower Owen Finegan is hoping to prove today that his ankle is up to the task of taking on the descendants of his ancestors.

It all gave weight to the feeling that the world champions are there for the toppling. And Jones is not disagreeing. "The Irish are probably the best prepared side in the world at the moment," he said. "They've had the most time together recently as a team, and apart from Keith Wood they're at full strength. In the first Test in New Zealand in June they could easily have won. It was 15-6 and they missed a number of shots at goal."

Nor could Jones, a self-avowed anorak of form, find any solace in the stat books. "In Tests this year between the top 10 rugby-playing nations, 76 per cent have been won by the home side," he said. Nice to see the Aussies as confident as ever.