James Mortimer    02.Oct.2012Getty Images

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has said the only way his team can compete with Argentina, let alone field a fit starting XV, is to fly in the infantry to reinforce a Wallabies team that is enduring a horror campaign in terms of injuries.

Already fielding their fourth captain in Nathan Sharpe, with James Horwill, David Pocock and Will Genia out of action, the Wallabies are also missing players such as Quade Cooper and James O'Connor, but the news is only looking worse as the side head to Argentina after a 31-8 loss to the Springboks.

Adam Ashley-Cooper looks to be the most likely to miss out after a concussion, while Berrick Barnes has been for x-rays thanks to his chest injury, while Digby Ioane, Radike Samo and Tatafu Polota-Nau could all be scratched, which would mean that more than fifteen 2011 Wallabies are out of action.

Deans said it was just a case of organising logistics.

"We're doing those numbers (on who won't be fit to play)," he said.

"We are going to have to bring some players across from Australia."

The Wallabies coach said that the fact the team was on the road was only going to make it more difficult, for even the luxury of flying in fit players would be compromised by how quickly they could make the long haul to South America.

“It's going to be very challenging," he said.

"We've delved so deep into our resources there's going to be a couple of players who won't have visas organised. Getting a visa for Argentina is not straight forward. There is a possibility we may have a few blokes who won't get there in time for one training.”


Despite guiding the Wallabies to back-to-back wins after losing to the All Blacks in the opening matches of The Investec Rugby Championship, the Australian media feels that the result of the match in Rosario could determine the coaching future of the former Crusaders mentor.