Wallabies scrum coach Mario Ledesma and returning back Karmichael Hunt both agree the time is right for young second-rower Izack Rodda to undergo shoulder surgery, which will rule him out for the rest of the year.
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Rodda will miss this weekend's Test against the All Blacks and all four spring tour matches after being told he requires shoulder surgery.
The 21-year-old, who has started twice and come off the bench twice for his country since debuting against New Zealand in Dunedin in August, will have shoulder surgery on Wednesday.
The operation will rule Rodda out of football until at least the start of next year's Super Rugby season.
Wallabies officials confirmed Rodda could have played on through the pain for Saturday's match in Brisbane and potentially for future Tests this year against Japan, Wales, England and Scotland.
However, there was the risk that if he did, he could miss up to half of the Queensland Reds' Super Rugby season.
Pressed on the loss of Rodda, Ledesma believed he would be better off in the long run by going under the knife sooner.
"It's not about us and if that's the right thing to do, that's the right thing to do for him," Ledesma said. "What's certain is that he's one of the guys that's been improving the most, physically and technically, and he'll be there for the next 10 or 15 years, so you'll be seeing a lot of him. He's a great project of a player."
Speaking from a player's perspective, Hunt, who plays alongside Rodda at the Reds, agreed the big picture needed to be taken into consideration.
"From a selfish point of view as a player, he's very young," Hunt said. "As a Wallaby you want him around because he's a really quality player who is growing but ??? he'll be back at the start of the year.
"It's going to be beneficial for the Wallabies going forward as well. I'm sure it's going to be the right [decision] and he'll be on board with it."
Reflecting on the crop of talent coming through the Wallabies ranks as he prepares to depart Australian rugby, Ledesma predicted the likes of Rodda, Jordan Uelese, Lukhan Tui, Tom Robertson and Allan Alaalatoa would assert their dominance in the coming years.
"It's a pretty young tight five and I know for a fact that in two years time they'll be killing it," Ledesma said. "They're already making progress every week and it's really tough being a tight five in international footy.
"It's a really exciting times for Australian rugby. I'm waiting for those guys to finish their blooming."
Rob Simmons, who has been a spare second-rower on the bench in Australia's previous two games, is the leading contender to take Rodda's spot in the starting XV when Michael Cheika names his team on Thursday.
Fellow Queenslander Lukhan Tui and Rory Arnold are in the frame to snare a bench spot.
