Suaalii expected to face Highlanders despite missing Waratahs trial

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii missed his NSW Waratahs debut after pulling up sore with a niggle to his knee on Saturday morning before the team travelled to Bowral to take on the Brumbies in their final Super Rugby trial game.

Suaalii trained at fullback at the captain’s run on Friday and the Waratahs expect their star recruit to be fully fit to face the Highlanders in Allianz Stadium for round one.

Joseph Suaalii-Aukuso was a late withdrawal from the Waratahs’ trial against the ACT Brumbies.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The Waratahs’ acting director of performance, Andrew Cleverly, said Suaalii was keen to play in the trial game, which ended in a 36-36 draw, but the team decided that it was not worth risking its prize asset before his Super Rugby debut.

“He’s pulled up a bit sore from a training injury,” Cleverly said. “If we were playing Super Rugby today he’d be playing.

“It’s nothing too major, we’ve got him at home; he’s just got a niggle in his knee, it’s minor.

“This is a trial, it’s unfortunate for the people here who have travelled and obviously trying to watch the game in different parts of the world, and we’re disappointed as well … but we’re looking forward to round one.”

Cleverly admitted Suaalii’s late injury may force the coaching staff to move him from fullback, potentially to the wing against the Highlanders where he won’t have the same workload.

“That’ll be definitely something the coaches will look at,” Cleverly said. “That’s the beauty of our squad at the moment. Max [Jorgensen] could have a blinder at fullback today, then there will be tough decisions, but that’s the Waratahs need, coaches making tough decisions because the depth of the squad is so good.”

Waratahs fullback Max Jorgensen makes a break against the Brumbies on Saturday.Credit: NSW Rugby

The capacity crowd that filled the home of the Bowral Blacks rugby club were only told that Suaalii was not playing as the teams ran out onto the field, with a collective groan from those in the hundreds of camp chairs surrounding the ground when it was announced Wallabies player Max Jorgensen would fill the fullback’s jersey with Darby Lancaster debuting for the Waratahs on the wing.

The Waratahs started the game nervously, losing their captain and halfback Jake Gordon after nine minutes after hurting his lower back. Gordon is expected to be fit for round one.

The Waratahs had the luxury of 10 Wallabies on the field, with three more on the bench, rolling out their strongest possible side, bar Suaalii, before round one.

The Waratahs’ increased star power compared to the Brumbies made little difference in a scrappy opening half, where they went into a large tent beside the sausage sizzle that served as a changing room at half-time holding a 21-19 lead thanks to converted tries from Lancaster, Jack Grant and Andrew Kellaway.

The Waratahs had enjoyed comfortable trial wins over Japan’s Kubota Spears and NSW Pacifica, but the largely second-string Brumbies were a considerable step-up in class and frustrated their opponents in attack and defence.

The Waratahs opened the second half with a second try in the corner for Lancaster, thanks to sharp feet from an impressive Lalakai Foketi at centre, before the Brumbies struck back with a try from Declan Meredith.

Waratahs winger Triston Reilly’s try was rubbed out by tries from the Brumbies’ Austin Anderson and Ryan Lonegan. Prop Felix Kalapu crashed over for the Waratahs to leave the game at 36-36.

David Porecki played his first rugby since missing the whole of last season due to an Achilles injury from a trial game against Melbourne Rebels and managed to play 52 minutes, giving Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt a further boost to his front-row stocks.

Coach Dan McKellar was happy to end the game with no major injury concerns but admitted that his new-look team need to sharpen up before their Super Rugby campaign.

“It’s just good to get a hit-out, the reality is the boys that played have been with us for two weeks, and we’re always going to be a bit rusty, a little bit clunky, and you could see that taking some time to get some match fitness on board and it’s good to get through,” McKellar said. “The positive is there’s some transfer and it’s nice to come out of it injury-free.”