Rob Horne will miss the remainder of the Tri-Nations © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Rob Horne

Tournaments/Tours: Tri Nations

Teams: Australia | New Zealand

Australia have suffered a major blow to their Tri-Nations hopes with centre Rob Horne ruled out for the remainder of the tournament due to a fracture to his elbow.

The Waratahs midfielder, 20, requires surgery on the injury, which also includes ligament damage, and his absence provides coach Robbie Deans with a headache prior to Saturday's Bledisloe Cup rematch against New Zealand in Christchurch.

Horne left the field midway through the second half in the Wallabies' 49-28 loss to the All Blacks in Melbourne on Saturday, with his place in the No.13 jersey filled by starting fullback Adam-Ashley Cooper.

Kurtley Beale, a club team-mate of Horne's, was called from the bench to fill in at No.15 while James O'Connor remains another option at fullback, having played his last two Tests out of position on the wing.

"It's bad luck for Rob, but he's made an encouraging start to his international career, starting in every Test that we've played this year," Wallabies boss Robbie Deans said.

Horne's place in the 24-man squad to face the All Blacks has been taken by Reds flanker Scott Higginbotham, who will fly to New Zealand, along with Western Force duo Ben McCalman and Cameron Shepherd, after playing club rugby last weekend.