PREMIERSHIP-winning prop Lindsay Collins is out of Australia’s World Cup squad due to a foot injury.
It’s been revealed Collins played the final few weeks of the NRL season with the problem and has now informed Australian team management.
Penrith’s Lindsay Smith is the replacement, with no impact on the shadow players: Hamish Stewart, Ethan Strange and Tom Jenkins.
Smith, 26, played two Tests for Australia last year.
Meanwhile, Perth-bound centre Gehamat Shibasake is the only unforced omission in the 23-man squad from the inclumbent 17 that played England at Headingley last November.
Two incumbents, winger Mark Nawaqanitawase and forward Angus Crichton, were not chosen because they are going to rugby union.
Winger Josh Addo-Carr was recently involved in an off-field incident involving recreational drugs while Nathan Cleary (ankle), Hudson Young (achilles) and Collins are injured.
Australia opens the tournament against New Zealand at Allianz Stadium on Thursday.
