Waratahs and Wallabies star Max Jorgensen is set for a period on the sidelines after suffering a suspected syndesmosis injury in an emphatic defeat to the Hurricanes in Wellington.
The 57-12 victory was the Hurricanes’ biggest over the Waratahs and extended their record to eight successive wins against NSW.
Max Jorgensen leaves the field injured against the HurricanesCredit: Stan Sport
Jorgensen has been outstanding for the Waratahs this season and has been expected to figure for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions later this year. He was injured just ten minutes into the first half after a suspected hip-drop tackle by Hurricanes breakaway Brayden Iose.
Syndesmosis affects the ligaments above the ankle joint and can take between five weeks and six months to recover from, depending on the severity of the strain. Jorgensen will return to Sydney for scans, the Waratahs confirmed last night.
The Waratahs had arrived in Wellington brimming with confidence after an epic victory over the Brumbies last Saturday. But Lawson Creighton’s converted try to open the scoring after just three minutes after a sniping run from Teddy Wilson proved a cruel false dawn. Instead, it was a long, dark night in Wellington, with the Hurricanes scoring nine tries including a hat-trick to devastating left winger Kini Naholo.
Naholo’s first two tries of the game were unconverted and with the margin just three points, the Waratahs still had hopes of springing an upset. But they were unable to gain parity against a ferociously physical Hurricanes side, losing collisions and the battle at the breakdown.
In the post-match press conference coach Dan McKellar spoke about the Waratahs’ inability to contain the Hurricanes physically, which consistently hurt his team in Wellington.
“The game is won and lost around the physical collision and the Hurricanes dominated that area,” McKellar said. “We turned the ball over too much, both at the breakdown and at the set piece, and they get on a roll.
“They’ve (the Hurricanes) got some talent in that group and they showed that tonight, so some harsh lessons for us.”
Prop Angus Bell and No.8 Langi Gleeson carried tirelessly, but their efforts were ruthlessly snuffed out by the Hurricanes’ defence. Just five minutes into the second half, the Hurricanes ended any idea of a Waratahs’ comeback with two converted tries through All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua and halfback Cam Roigard.
To their credit, NSW kept fighting, with winger Archie Saunders scoring a try on his debut after Tane Edmed’s speculative grubber kick finally opened space in the Hurricanes’ miserly defence. Ultimately, it was the last glimpse of light for the Waratahs in Wellington. Joey Walton desperately tried to stop a rolling maul from the Hurricanes and was yellow-carded for illegally bringing it down, costing his side a penalty try.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii endured a difficult comeback in WellingtonCredit: Getty Images
The Waratahs were undermanned, but their courage couldn’t be questioned, with the returning Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii on his comeback making a brave try-saving tackle on the rampant Naholo. Suaalii’s time with the ball was limited, after Jorgensen’s injury had forced him to switch from centre into the fullback slot.
But the visitors were unable to keep the Hurricanes at bay, with Ngatungane Punivai streaking through almost unopposed past an exhausted Taniela Tupou, who had done at least 17 minutes of overtime. It was followed by another try by former England international Brad Shields to extend the lead to 33 points.
The Waratahs were bereft of ideas by the time Bailyn Sullivan charged down Wilson’s box kick to bring up 50 for the home team.
Naholo completed his hat-trick with two minutes left and the full-time siren finally ended the horror show, with the Waratahs brutally brought back down to earth by a ruthless Hurricanes team.
The Waratah remain undefeated at home in Sydney, but have lost both of their away games against the Reds and the Hurricanes emphatically. Next Saturday in New Zealand Moana Pasifika will be desperate to continue the Waratahs’ bout of homesickness for at least one more week.
