The full severity of Jordan Petaia’s shoulder injury is not yet known, but one only had to pay attention to Brad Thorn’s worried words to understand the news isn’t good over Australia’s most exciting young player.

“We’re gutted for Jordan,” Reds coach Brad Thorn said in statement.

“He’ll return home with the squad and will be looked at for further diagnosis. It’s personally frustrating for him and also for us as a group on the field.”

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Australia's centre Jordan Petaia (L) runs past England's fly-half Owen Farrell during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final. Source: AFP

News of Petaia’s injury broke on Friday morning AEDT, less than 24 hours after the three-capped Wallaby hurt his shoulder at training in Buenos Aires.

It’s understood that the exciting back’s shoulder popped out during the Reds’ Wednesday training session.

He has flown back to Brisbane and only after getting scans will the picture over Petaia’s immediate future become clear.

Touring teams are often out of sight and out of mind in South Africa and Argentina, but the Reds’ vagueness around the 19-year-old’s injury could be seen as an indicator that they’re worried for his season’s prospects.

It was almost a year to the day that Petaia injured his foot during the Reds’ second match against the Crusaders and he was forced to miss the rest of the Super Rugby season.

Jordan Petaia (R) was Michael Cheika’s ace up his sleeve during the World Cup. Source: AFP

Petaia is the brightest young prospect in Australian rugby.

The talented back was Michael Cheika’s ace up his sleeve during last year’s World Cup, where he was sensationally picked at outside centre to face England in the quarter-final in just his third Test, and any absence on the field would be a crushing blow to Queensland’s hopes of snapping their finals drought.

It would also be a massive blow to Australian rugby’s hopes of changing the narrative and bringing fans back through the turnstiles, particularly a week out from the Reds’ first home match of the season against the Sunwolves on Saturday, February 22.

In his absence comes former Rebels back Hunter Paisami who “impressed” James O’Connor “a lot” during the pre-season and has started the season in promising form.

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Thorn has made a series of other changes too with former Wallabies outside back Chris Feauai-Sautia promoted for his first start of the year on the right wing, with Jock Campbell shifting to fullback for Bryce Hegarty who drops to the bench.

The other change to the Reds side is in the second-row with Angus Blyth partnering Izack Rodda which sees Lukhan Salakaia-Loto shift to the back-row.

The Reds head into the important match against last year’s runner’s up, the Jaguares, off the back of two narrow losses, which saw the Reds pick up fighting bonus-points.

It was two years ago that the Reds beat the Jaguares in Argentina.

But the loss of Petaia and the difficulties of winning on the road, particularly after the second long-haul flight, mean the Reds’ chances of coming away from Buenos Aires with a victory have taken a blow.

“We’ve had two tight games and we’re looking to finish this tour (well and) take something back with us,” Thorn said.

“We’ve got two bonus points but we’re looking for that win to put us in a good space.”

JAGUARES (15-1): Santiago Carreras, Bautista Delguy, Matias Moroni, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Emiliano Boffelli, Domingo Miotti, Felipe Ezcurra, Rodrigo Bruni, Marcos Kremer, Tomas Lezana, Lucas Paulos, Guido Petti, Lucio Sordoni, Agustin Creevy, Mayco Vivas

Reserves: Julian Montoya, Javier Diaz, Joel Sclavi, Matias Alemanno, Javier Ortega Desio, Tomas Cubelli, Tomas Albornoz, Juan Cruz Mallia

REDS (15-1): Jock Campbell, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Hunter Paisami, Hamish Stewart, Henry Speight, James O’Connor, Tate McDermott, Harry Wilson, Liam Wright (c), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Angus Blyth, Izack Rodda, Taniela Tupou, Alex Mafi, JP Smith

Reserves: Sean Farrell*, Dane Zander, Josh Nasser, Harry Hockings, Angus Scott-Young, Moses Sorovi, Isaac Lucas, Bryce Hegarty

Referee: Federico Anselmi (ARG)

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