Digby Ioane's recovery from a dislocated shoulder was over before it began after a back-yard tackle by his brother on Saturday.

Ioane was going through a defensive drill with brother Jay as a part of his attempt to prove fitness, but dislocated the shoulder again and leaving himself facing surgery and six months on the sidelines.

"I'm shattered. I went to make the tackle and it just popped out again, I guess there's always a risk with it," Ioane said.

"I was hoping for big things against the All Blacks but better it happen like this than against Ma'a Nonu in a test.

"It's sad it has gone this way but I'll come back stronger and faster for World Cup year."

Ioane, who played the first of his 11 tests in 2007, sympathised with his brother.

"I feel sorry for Jay. He was worried about telling Dad but it had nothing to do with anything he did in the tackle."

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans had been keen to utilise Ioane's ball-carrying strength against the All Blacks.

"It's a big blow for him, and us," Deans said.

"It was a fairly innocuous defensive drill and despite the scans showing no new damage it's more complex than that."

With Ioane out for the season, wing Drew Mitchell, controversially dropped before Saturday's match aainst South Africa but then reinstated and the scorer of Australia's first try, should retain his place for the rest of the tournament.

25/07/2010