AUSTRALIA SCRUM-HALF Will Genia is a doubt for June’s Test series against Ireland after picking up a knee injury in action for the Melbourne Rebels this morning.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

The 30-year-old, who was making his return from a hamstring injury today, picked up the knock before half-time of what turned out to be a heavy 55-10 loss for the Rebels at home to Ronan O’Gara’s Crusaders.

Broadcasters of the game, Fox Australia, reported that Genia said the issue was one he had experienced before and expected a six-week recovery time  – that timeline would take the scrum-half up to the week of the second Test against Ireland in Melbourne.

Genia started all of Australia’s Rugby Championship fixtures last year and was also the starting 9 for the November Test defeats against England and Scotland.

If he fails to recover before the 9 June opening Test in Brisbane, Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika could turn to Nick Phipps, who earned a fine from his club Waratahs this week after a drunken night in Sydney ended with him urinating on a bar.

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