Waratahs and Wallabies star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is still on course to face the British and Irish Lions after broken bones were ruled out after he suffered a concussion during his side’s 28-21 loss against the Reds in Sydney.
Suaalii was injured attempting to make a tackle on Reds centre Filipo Daugunu when he accidentally caught the knee of his teammate Andrew Kellaway, who was getting cleared out of a ruck.
As Suaalii lay motionless on the turf and play continued, Daugunu stayed beside his international teammate to protect him from further harm in an act of impressive sportsmanship. Suaalii left the field in a neck brace on a medical cart and eventually travelled home with his parents from the stadium.
Coach Dan McKellar will be without Suaalii for a minimum of stand down period of 12 days which begin as soon as the player feels no symptoms of concussion. If the player reports any symptoms, the 12 days will restart.
McKellar was asked in the post-match press conference whether Suaalii had broken any bones, and reported that to his knowledge it was a concussion.
“No, not that I’ve been told at the moment,” McKellar said. “I don’t think there’s any X rays, and that (broken bones) hasn’t been mentioned.
“So it’s a concussion, I don’t know what his background is there, whether he had many at the Roosters or not.”
The Wallabies coaching staff, led by Joe Schmidt, arrived at Allianz Stadium ready to enjoy a late audition for squad places ahead of the arrival of the British and Irish Lions in seven weeks.
Ultimately, what they got was a rainy night of nerves, with Reds five-eighth Tom Lynagh also being forced to leave the field just before half time after taking a knock to the head in a tense contest where three yellow cards were shown.
“I thought when we played on the front foot tonight we looked really good,” Waratahs skipper Jake Gordon said on Stan Sport. “We had a few poor moments.
“Small margins against good teams hurt.”
Rookie centre Henry O’Donnell put the Waratahs into the lead with an early try after patient play by the NSW forwards who refused to be intimidated by the Reds’ defence. Hooker Dave Porecki and loose-head prop Angus Bell deserved credit for their role in making hard yards.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is taken off the field during the Waratahs’ clash with the Reds.Credit: Getty Images
The Waratahs forward pack had been humiliated in Canberra against the Brumbies and responded with a brutally physical approach led by Porecki in his return match.
After a brilliant break from No.8 Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon took a leaf out of his Wallaby teammate Tate McDermott’s book with a sniping break to send his side 14-0 up.
Regardless of momentum, the Waratahs are seemingly incapable of making it a simple evening.
After pressuring the Reds line and looking like extending their lead, Wallabies breakaway Fraser McReight ripped the ball from Bell to set a length of the field chase, with McDermott finishing his own sniping try.
The rain began to fall heavily and changed the Waratahs’ night completely. Prop Dan Botha was yellow-carded for an illegal clean out of Reds’ second-rower Josh Canham and Suaalii left the field for medical attention after taking Kellaway’s knee directly to his face.
Angus Bell takes a carry for the Waratahs. Credit: Getty Images
In the chaos of managing Suaalii’s departure alongside Botha, who was still off the field, Richie Asiata crashed over and levelled the scores for the Reds.
The Reds’ revival was stalled by a careless yellow card to Canham for a needless head high shot on Porecki, which left a weakened pack and provided the perfect platform for Taniela Tupou to score.
Tupou’s night had started well including winning an early scrum penalty, but turned dramatically after the prop had to leave the field for ten minutes after making head contact with Reds’ centre Dre Pakeho.
He left the field before Josh Nasser scored a simple rolling maul try just metres from the Waratahs’ line in the increasingly sodden Allianz Stadium turf.
Despite the yellow card, McKellar believed that Tupou played his best game this year for the Waratahs after the prop spoke of doubting his ability in an interview with this masthead.
“I thought it was Nela’s best game tonight, (it) was good to see him get the ball in his hands in and around that A zone, I thought he scrummaged exceptionally well, but unfortunately didn’t get rewarded for it.”
The Waratahs had a late opportunity to go back into the lead after a break from Kellaway which drew the Reds’ defence. However, he failed to provide a clean pass as the greasy ball slipped through replacement winger Darby Lancaster’s fingers with the line at his mercy.
Minutes later, Daugunu punished the Waratahs, hitting a perfectly weighted kick for his right-winger Lachie Anderson to scoop up on the wet turf and put the Reds into a 28-21 lead, where the score stayed.
The Waratahs not only lost their unbeaten home record and put their chances of making finals in further doubt, with a chance to stay vaguely in contention next Friday evening against the Crusaders.
