Suaalii’s Lions preparation under a cloud after scan reveals broken jaw

Wallabies officials are confident Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will be fit and ready for the British and Irish Lions series despite the star requiring surgery to repair a fracture in his jaw.

Suaalii will miss the rest of the Super Rugby season for the Waratahs after scans revealed an “undisplaced fracture” in his jaw, suffered during an accidental knee to his head from teammate Andrew Kellaway in his side’s 28-21 loss to the Reds on Friday night.

The NSW fullback was stretchered from the field with concussion, and though Suaalii recovered well from the head knock, he reported residual soreness in his jaw early this week. Further imaging revealed a hairline fracture at the site of the impact.

The 21-year-old will undergo surgery this week, in which a plate will be attached to strengthen the affected area of the jaw.

The Waratahs said Suaalii would be sidelined for the next four weeks, meaning he will play no further part in their Super Rugby campaign, and that a review would be conducted after that four-week period to determine when he can return to the field.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is treated after a bad head knock on Friday night.Credit: Getty Images

It is an unwelcome development as the British and Irish Lions tour looms, given Suaalii had already missed four games early in the season with a foot injury.

But informed sources said Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt and medical staff are not worried about the prospect of Suaalii being in any doubt for the three-Test series against the Lions, which starts in Brisbane on July 19, and is 66 days away.

The usual concern with a footballer suffering a broken jaw is the inability to eat solid foods for a period, which can lead to weight loss and extended time on the sidelines with the need to bulk up again.

However, Suaalii’s fracture is not serious enough to stop him from eating solid foods, meaning he will be able to maintain his playing weight and even resume training relatively quickly.

Schmidt is likely to name a 38 to 40-man Wallabies squad in the last week of June before a warm-up Test against Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday, July 6.

“This is unfortunate for us and especially for Joseph,” Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said. “We wish him all the best in his recovery and return to full health.

“We will do all we can to facilitate his recovery in consultation with Rugby Australia to have him in the best shape possible for his availability for the Wallabies.”

The potential problem for Schmidt is Suaalii going into the Lions Test series without enough games under his belt. After missing four matches at the start of the season, Suaalii has only played seven games for the Waratahs, to go with four Tests for the Wallabies on the spring tour.

Before news of Suaalii’s broken jaw, Schmidt said on Monday he just wanted to see him on the field.

“I’m keen to see him keep playing,” Schmidt said. “I think that he’s missed a few [Super Rugby] games already this season – he hasn’t had that many games anyway.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii taking on the Brumbies defence.Credit: Getty Images

“For Joseph, I think it’s important that he just keeps playing when he’s fit and available to play.”

Speaking on the Inside Line podcast, dual international Mat Rogers said Suaalii’s lack of game time could reduce his potency against the Lions.

“As much as he is a rugby union kid, this is a different game now, he is playing at a professional level,” Rogers said. “I think I was playing my best rugby in 2005 or 2004; it took a couple of years of playing [after switching in 2002] … I could still play, I just didn’t feel like I was on autopilot.

“I was thinking about everything I had to do, and it took a couple of years of playing. And that’s what Joseph is going to miss out on. He is missing out on the autopilot switch.

“He is going to have to be dialled in 100 per cent of the time. Which, of course, you think every player is. But players, they get in an autopilot mode, because it is what we do.

“Will it hurt him? I think it will. We are still going to get a world-class quality athlete, but will we get the absolute best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii? I don’t think we will because he is just not going to be playing enough footy.”

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