Suaalii makes shock recovery for Ireland, Tane Edmed set for Wallabies debut

Last week it looked as though Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii had suffered a broken arm. This week he’s made a miracle recovery and is set to start against the best team in the northern hemisphere.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is set to make a stunning recovery to start against Ireland, while rookie playmaker Tane Edmed is tipped to earn his Test debut off the bench in the final Test of the year.

Suaalii was thought to have suffered a broken arm, but scans cleared him of a fracture following a tackle on Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu last weekend in Edinburgh after which he was sidelined in the 30th minute.

The star centre will get the chance to line up against the best team in the northern hemisphere in Dublin, having suffered a loss of feeling in his arm but recovering strongly during the week.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is tackled by Scotland’s Sione Tuipulotu. Picture: Getty Images

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii receives medical treatment after sustaining an injury, before later leaving the field, in the loss to Scotland. Picture: Getty Images

His centre pairing with Len Ikitau is set to be the starting midfield partnership against the British & Irish Lions next year, so this game will be a solid guide to their strengths and shortcomings against a team coached by Andy Farrell.

Edmed, 24, was a surprise inclusion for the spring tour ahead of Tom Lynagh, but so far has not been given any game time, with Noah Lolesio starting every Test at No.10 and Ben Donaldson being his back-up on the bench.

While Lolesio has played well on tour and proven himself as Australia’s leading playmaker, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt needs to find out if Edmed can handle the Test arena before the Lions series next July.

This is his last opportunity to do so, and Edmed is expected to come off the pine in Dublin.

Waratahs playmaker Tane Edmed with new teammates Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (background) in Wallabies training camp in Canberra. Picture: Rugby Australia

Fraser McReight is set to return to the No.7 jersey after missing last week’s defeat to the Scots, while Jeremy Williams – who was a late withdrawal – is also expected to slot in at second row in place of Will Skelton, who will return to France given the international Regulation Nine window has closed.

The Wallabies must put in a strong showing this weekend to ensure they enter 2025 with confidence, while dampening the 150 year celebrations of Irish rugby.

Halfback Jake Gordon said: “It’s a massive game for us, we believe we’re improving and we were probably pretty disappointed with the game over the weekend.

“I wouldn’t say we went backwards but definitely weren’t where we thought we needed to be for that game and we really want to finish this tour well.

“We see this as a great opportunity this weekend against a really strong Irish team to play some really good rugby and we’re excited for the occasion, 150 years of Ireland rugby, we know it’s going to be a massive spectacle and event there and we can’t wait for the atmosphere.”

Ireland’s Mack Hansen celebrates with teammate Craig Casey after scoring a try. Picture: Getty Images

But if they’re to be any chance against the world-class Ireland outfit, they certainly can’t afford to miss the 34 tackles and concede the 14 penalties they did in Edinburgh.

“Our discipline was off, we let in far too many penalties, especially on the defensive side of the game and couldn’t really get our attack going,” Gordon said.

“We attacked well in the first 15-20 minutes but then got starved of possession and had some misses in defence, compounded with some poor decision-making which led to them getting access into our 22 and they took opportunities in that second half.”

Originally published as Suaalii makes shock recovery for Ireland, Tane Edmed set for Wallabies debut