Brumbies injury woes: Allan Alaalatoa out for six, Toni Pulu's season in doubt

The impact of the painful news depends on whether you're a glass half full or half empty sort of person.

The fact Alaalatoa has a broken arm and could miss just a handful of games because of the coronavirus disruption will ease some of the Brumbies' heartache.

But it's hard to sugar coat luckless Pulu's situation as he faces another long stint on the sideline after surgeons repair the damage in his shoulder.

Pulu has battled injuries for his entire Super Rugby career but was hoping for a change of luck this season.

In the end he lasted just two games, injuring his shoulder when scoring a try against the Japan Sunwolves two weeks ago.

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar couldn't hide his disappointment for a man described as one of the fastest players in the competition.

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"Some players just can't take a trick with injury and luck. TP is unfortunately one of those players," McKellar said.

"He's an important player in our group. An experienced outside back who was starting to get back to full fitness. Injuries happen and he just needs to get his shoulder fixed and then get back into it. He's still got plenty of good footy ahead of him."

Captain Alaalatoa injured his arm in the first half of the Brumbies' 33-point demolition of the NSW Waratahs on Sunday.

Scans on Monday confirmed the Brumbies' worst fears of a fracture. He will miss at least six weeks, but how many games that equates to depends on when, or if, Super Rugby resumes.

Vice-captains Joe Powell, Lachlan McCaffrey or Tom Cusack will step into the role if the Brumbies play again this year, while Tom Ross and Shambeckler Vui will share the tighthead prop roles.

The Super Rugby break is frustrating for the Brumbies because of the momentum they have built in the first six rounds. But it also comes at a good time, if it could ever be considered that way.

Wallabies trio Alaalatoa, Scott Sio (hand) and Folau Fainga'a (toe) are all injured and all three would have likely missed a trip to Auckland this week anyway.

It's hoped Fainga'a will be the first to return, while Sio could be available in two weeks after having a plate inserted into his hand.

"We're obviously not playing for the foreseeable future, so Allan will have surgery and we'll get him back when we can," McKellar said.

"It's obviously going to test our depth. But Rossy was good there when he had to come on to the field [against the Waratahs] and it's a good chance for guys who have been working away in the background.

"When your captain and one of your vice captains play in specialist positions, you do need a group of leaders and we've got that. We work closely with those boys ... but we won't rush into a decision of who steps in there."