WALLABY outcast Matt Giteau is set to be snubbed again for a World Cup call-up despite the likelihood two injured centres will be sent home after a torrid victory over the USA on Friday.

With Rob Horne (cheekbone) and Pat McCabe (shoulder) suffering potentially tournament-ending injuries in the 67-5 win, uncapped Reds rookie Ben Tapuai has emerged as the leading contender ahead of Giteau to jet into New Zealand as the emergency reserve this week.

Given the question marks over the fitness of Wycliff Palu and key openside flanker David Pocock, Wallabies management have drawn up a short-list of replacements.

The Sunday Telegraph understands Tapuai is top of the list, followed by Western Force flanker Matt Hodgson and versatile Waratahs backrower Dave Dennis.

Tapuai, 22, impressed in both attack and defence for Queensland in their Super Rugby title season and starred for the Australian Barbarians against Canada last month.

Asked if 92-Test veteran Giteau was a possibility to be invited back in from the cold, coach Robbie Deans answered without enthusiasm.

"Well, he's obviously in the frame for a potential call-up. He was part of the original 40 (training squad)," Deans said.

With close to a third of his 30-man squad under a cloud, Deans said a decision on replacements would be made within 48 hours after medical staff had assessed Horne, McCabe and Palu (hamstring).

The trio was set to undergo scans in Christchurch yesterday.

Tapuai was involved in the Brisbane club rugby final yesterday for Sunnybank against Brothers and Dennis played for Sydney Uni in the Shute Shield decider against Eastwood.

Deans was giving nothing away in terms of replacements yesterday but hinted there would be no call to Giteau when asked if he'd be calling the stand-by players last night.

"We will be, possibly. There is a bit of distraction going on over there with finals and so on," Deans said.

The ability of several players, such as Adam Ashley-Cooper and James O'Connor, to move into the centres could open room for a back-up No 7.

But the preference of Tapuai over Giteau would indicate the oft-denied fall-out between Deans and the veteran Wallaby is beyond repair.

After initially grave medical reports following the win against the USA, Deans was slightly more buoyant yesterday.

Anthony Faingaa was up and about in the morning after the sickening head knock that saw him stretchered from the field, with Deans saying he could remember everything about the match and the knock.

Horne's fracture may not require surgery and McCabe's shoulder dislocation was not as dire as originally diagnosed, but Deans said no decisions about replacements would be made until tomorrow, ahead of their first session on Tuesday.

Wycliff Palu has a grade-one hamstring tear.

"They are our first preference, but it's how far you hold out. It won't be straightforward. That cumulative effect will be a consideration, with the number of injuries. We will sit down and map that out," Deans said.

Though James Horwill, O'Connor and Scott Higginbotham are expected to be fit for Russia next Saturday, Pocock remains "no certainty".

Deans admitted he had re-considered his attitude on a back-up flanker and Hodgson's experience has presumably got him ahead of Beau Robinson.

"That's one of the possibilities, to cover with a specialist seven. But it doesn't necessarily mean whoever came would go straight into the 22," Deans said.

With no risks to be taken on winger Digby Ioane (thumb) or fullback Kurtley Beale (hamstring) this week, Deans said he might struggle to find enough fit backs to face the Russians.

"It's possible in the backs it will be tight but, no, we'll be right," Deans said.

There was no panic in the Wallabies camp despite their hotel resembling a hospital ward. An outwardly unflappable Deans said such injury runs were why he ran big squads in training camps.

"It was always going to be this way. It is just the way it is, and it's part of the game," Deans said.

"That's why we prepare with a squad, and this is where your background comes forward. You can't predict, but you have to be able to cope as best as possible. We knew that we would end up going beyond (our top 30) ... and fortunately we have some background (in our reserves)."

Deans said he was pleased with the mental toughness shown by the Wallabies to overcome a shaky start and put the sword to a fired-up USA.

"The boys turned up, and maintained their intensity. The scoreboard would suggest some of these fixtures are supposedly easy, but you only have to look at the carnage to recognise that's just not the case," he said. "There is no easy route to the tryline. Even when you get to the tryline, you take a few knocks."

Originally published as It's another kick in the Gits