Will Genia was injured at AAMI Park.
Photo: AAP
A broken arm to Will Genia and suspected fractured cheekbone to Adam Coleman have piled the pressure on Australia heading into the series decider in Sydney.
Genia will have surgery on Sunday and will likely miss the rest of the Rebels' season after an off the ball incident coach Michael Cheika described as a "king hit" from Ireland prop Cian Healy.
Coleman will need further scans before a decision is made on whether he can fly with the squad to Sydney on Sunday afternoon.
Genia left the field in noticeable discomfort 26 minutes into the match, which Australia lost 26-21, after picking up what appeared to be a wrist injury.
Cheika revealed after the game that Genia has a broken arm and could go in for surgery as early as Sunday forcing him out of the side for the series decider in Sydney this Saturday.
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"We ran the play down the front, Willy's the decoy around the back, and he got king hit from the side. It looked like a shoulder," Cheika said.
"And when you're not expecting it, that's what happens.
"Hoops went down the front, Willy went around the back, I'm not sure who it was from the other team, (they) came in and hit him and he jammed his arm and broke it."
Cheika hopes he could still have Genia back in time for The Rugby Championship.
The Wallabies are unlikely to refer the incident to the citing commissioner but it may be looked at independently. Coleman was shown a yellow card for a tackle off the ball in Brisbane last week.
Genia sought treatment on the field but appeared to be struggling to grip the ball and was quickly replaced with Nick Phipps.
The broken arm is the latest in a frustrating season for Genia who missed a month with a knee injury on the eve of the series and Melbournes trip to South Africa in April with a hamstring injury.
Genia has proven to be in a class of his own within Super Rugby this year as the standout halfback, with no other number nine matching his playmaking and leadership.
Phipps performed solidly in his place on Saturday night.
It was a costly 80 minutes for Rebels coach Dave Wessels, with Coleman also in doubt now. He collided with Israel Folau and was taken off for head injury assessment in the 41st minute.
While injuries hurt the Wallabies, their first half penalty count proved disastrous with Marika Koroibete being yellow carded just six minutes in for a lifting tackle and his side conceding the first five penalties of the game.
Ireland was especially damaging during Koroibetes time off the field, scoring 13 points with Irish five-eighth Johnny Sexton enjoying the extra chances to kick for goal. He converted four of his five penalty attempts as well as both Irish tries.
Ireland's discipline was not much better conceeding two yellow cards on the night but they didn't concede many penalties in their defensive half and still had the better of a 15-12 penalty count.
In the lead-up to the second Test Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said discipline would be vital to success and for his side to build up consistent possession in attack.
“The margin we normally have against Ireland shrunk last week and we have to keep turning that into a positive where we are giving away less penalties than them,” Cheika said on Thursday.
“To give us a chance to be consistent in the game, its really important.”
His side didnt heed his words and Sexton turned the series back in Irelands favour heading into the decider.
While the Wallabies are the all important side at present, Genia and Colemans absences would be a major hit for the Rebels who host the Waratahs on June 29 in what will be almost a grand final for the Australian conference title.
The second Test also still proved a box-office success with 29,018 turning up despite having the Socceroos v France World Cup game on television and the AFL clash between Hawthorn and Adelaide over the road at the MCG.
But there was clearly a break in communication between ticket holders and officials as many fans turned up close to kick-off and were delayed at the turnstiles by the stadiums bag and body searches. The practice has been in place for several months but many visiting fans didnt appear to receive the message.
Roy Ward is a Sports writer for The Age.
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