Wallabies sweat on fitness of Coleman

PACK enforcer Adam Coleman faces a crucial fitness test today which will decide whether the Wallabies throw a powerful clenched fist at England or a hopeful haymaker at their Twickenham fortress.

Australia’s top lock took no part in Monday’s session with the thumb injury sustained against Wales last weekend and upgraded his involvement only slightly on Tuesday when he ran with the team to open training.

Bypassing a kick- catching drill and holding a limbo- style pole, set up to assist teammates through a thumping session of low clean- outs into padded shields, was aimed at keeping the digit away from a friendly fire incident.

The 20- Test figure is essential to the mood and aggression of the Wallabies pack and playing an inexperienced alternative would seriously diminish Saturday’s chances of redressing the ugly 0- 4 run in Tests against England last year.

Assistant coach Steve Larkham was upbeat when quizzed on whether Coleman was certain to play.

“He pulled up really well out of the game,” Larkham said.

“We’re just making sure that we do right by him so he’s certainly on track to play.”

What complicates the critical Coleman case is impressive Lukhan Tui still being touchand- go to return from the hamstring injury that has sidelined the young back- up lock from the opening two Tests of the tour.

He is a wait- and- see case as well which pitches raw- boned Matt Philip into the frame as a possible starter on the strength of just 33 minutes of Test rugby from his two go- forward Test cameos.