Wallabies receive surprise injury boost with star recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii avoiding broken arm

It was feared Australian rugby’s $5m man had broken his wrist in the Wallabies disappointing defeat to Scotland – but Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has received a shock new diagnosis.

Wallabies centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is treated by medical staff. Picture: AFP

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been cleared of a broken arm in a huge boost for the NSW Waratahs, who will use him as their poster boy for the Super Rugby season next year.

Suaalii travelled with the Wallabies to Ireland after he was injured making a tackle on Scottish captain Sione Tuipulotu in Edinburgh, and it was feared the $5 million star had broken his wrist.

But scans have confirmed there is no break, and in a stunning development he may well yet feature for the Wallabies against Ireland.

A Wallabies spokesman said: “After making a tackle yesterday Joseph Suaalii lost function and had severe pain in his right arm and was substituted.

It was feared Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has broken his wrist. Picture: Getty

“Since full-time and after travelling with the team to Ireland, his function is returning, and pain is subsiding.

“He was medically reviewed post-game and there is no evidence of a fracture and will be monitored throughout the week.

“Jeremy Williams also travelled with the side and is recovering positively from illness which ruled him out of yesterday’s Test.”

Suaalii, 21, has showed some stunning form in his first three professional games of rugby, winning man-of-the-match in his debut against England and playing strongly against Scotland before he was sidelined.

The Suaalii threatened to eat into his first pre-season with the Waratahs. Picture: Getty

Ireland poses Australia’s biggest challenge of the spring tour.

They’re ranked No.2 in the world, have four players in the 2024 World Rugby dream team, and are led by Andy Farrell, who will coach the touring British & Irish Lions team next year.

The Dublin game also represents a homecoming of sorts for Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, who was at the helm when Ireland first reached No.1 in the world rankings in 2019.

“I’m really excited about getting back, I’m done about being love-bombed though,” Schmidt said.

“I coached against them a couple of times at the All Blacks and I think I was pretty unpopular there. I’ll swap sides again and there’ll be a degree of unpopularity, but the way my family and I were looked after in Dublin was fantastic, and right around Ireland. So it’s a special place for us.

“Obviously, we still have a home there and a daughter and I’m looking forward to catching up with her actually as well.

“So it’ll be a nice week to get back there but there’s only one game in town and that’s all about the footy and trying to help these guys prepare as best they can.”

Originally published as Wallabies receive surprise injury boost with star recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii avoiding broken arm