Ireland prop in hot water over ‘kinghit’

A broken arm to Will Genia and suspected fractured cheekbone to Adam Coleman have piled the pressure on Australia heading into the series decider with Ireland in Sydney.

Genia will likely miss the rest of the Melbourne Rebels’ Super Rugby season after an off the ball incident coach Michael Cheika described as a ‘‘kinghit’’ from Ireland prop Cian Healy.

Coleman will need further scans before a decision was made on whether he can fly with the squad to Sydney.

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. ‘‘We ran the play down the front, Willy’s the decoy around the back, and he got kinghit from the side.

‘‘It looked like a shoulder,’’ Cheika said. ‘‘And when you’re not expecting it, that’s what happens.

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 Melbourne’s trip to South Africa in April with a hamstring injury.