Arrest warrant issued for Wallabies winger Ioane

Pat McCabe and Digby Ioane have been ruled out of the rest of the series with Berrick Barnes, a third Australia back, sidelined for the all-important second test in Melbourne.

The loss of the trio is a hammer blow to the Wallabies' preparations as they enter the second clash at Docklands Stadium trailing 1-0 in the three-match series.

Hard-running Australia centre McCabe and fullback Barnes were among the three Wallabies players stretchered off during their bruising 23-21 defeat in the first test in Brisbane last Saturday.

McCabe had suffered a neck injury similar to the one he picked up during the Wallabies' northern hemisphere tour last year, while winger Ioane would possibly require surgery after sustaining "internal" damage to his right shoulder, the team said.

"Barnes will not be considered for Saturday night's second test, although it is hoped he will have recovered in time to be considered for the third game in Sydney," the team said.

The injury blows were announced hours after revelations that winger Ioane had failed to attend a court appearance in Melbourne to face an assault charge relating to an incident in March.