Patricio `Pato' Noriega's World Cup is over before he had the opportunity to lace a boot in anger. The Argentinian-born Australian prop will return to his adoptive country later this week after suffering shoulder ligament damage.
The injury has failed to respond to treatment, at least not sufficiently to foster hopes of Noriega playing in the tournament. The latest prognosis is that surgery may be required to correct the ligament problem.
Australian coach Rod Macqueen admitted to being extremely disappointed for such an integral member of the party. Noriega's ability to play both sides of the front row highlights the significance of his departure. The player was understandably devastated but that did not preclude him from helping out at yesterday's training session.
Noriega's misfortune provided an unexpected fillip for Rod Moore, ironically `Pato's' former understudy at the ACT Brumbies. Moore was collected from Dublin Airport yesterday morning by team manager John McKay and was introduced to the media amid a cacophony of good-natured sledging from his new team-mates. The affable Moore looked a little bemused, an understandable feeling given the reception but also the fact that he is still recovering after helping Eastwood win their first ever Grand Final against Sydney University in Sydney last Saturday.
"Yeah, we celebrated pretty hard after the game," Moore said. But not too hard as Moore (27) had received a phone call last Thursday from Macqueen warning him that he might be required.
The newcomer's first thoughts on arrival were for Noriega. "I am disappointed for `Pato'. I have learnt a lot from him during his time at the Brumbies. It's a very tough blow for him." Moore confessed that he had trouble adjusting to the reality of his impromptu call-up. "Initially it was a huge shock. I never thought it would happen in these circumstances.
"It took a while to sink in. It wasn't really until I was on the plane that I fully realised what was happening."
When asked as to what he will contribute to the squad, Moore ventured: "For the past two of three years I have been working on my scrummaging but it is only with the help of Eddie Jones at the Brumbies that my game around the pitch has developed."
This will not be Moore's first time in Ireland. He toured Ireland with the successful 1990 Australian schoolboys team and was on the bench for the Test in Limerick. He has also played at under-21 level for Australia but it is his development recently that have presented him with this opportunity.
Moore is extremely unlikely to make the bench for Saturday, with Dan Crowley replacing Noriega. With that `Sven', as Moore is affectionately known by his team-mates because of his similarity to a Swedish backpacker, was whisked away by Macqueen for a private chat , appropriately beside a vacant scrummaging machine, an instrument with which he will become more familiar with over the coming days and weeks.
