4 Jul 2012

Beale and Pocock's Super Rugby season over

5:28 pm on 4 July 2012

The Wallabies David Pocock and Kurtley Beale have played their last games of Super Rugby for the season and may be in doubt for Australia's back-to-back tests against the All Blacks next month.

Openside flanker Pocock was left out of the Western Force squad for their last two matches of the season in New Zealand because of a groin injury.

Beale, who has played at fullback and first five this season, sustained a rib injury in the Melbourne Rebels' match against the Queensland Reds last weekend and will be out for up to six weeks.

The 23-year-old, one of Australia's most dangerous backs, missed three of his country's four matches in June, returning for the third test against Wales in Sydney.

His absence for the two tests against world champions New Zealand that kick off Australia's campaign in the inaugural Rugby Championship is a blow to coach Robbie Deans.

There is already a question mark over another of Australia's best young backs James O'Connor, who will also miss the Rebels' last two matches in South Africa because of a hamstring injury.