Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii injured as Wallabies thumped 27-13 by Scotland
The Wallabies’ 40-year wait for a Grand Slam continues after a thumping loss to Scotland that was compounded by a serious injury to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
Australia’s decades-long quest for a Grand Slam continues after the Wallabies were thumped by Scotland and $5 million man Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii suffered a serious injury.
Scotland prevailed 27-13, with a clinical four tries to one victory that ended the Wallabies’ hopes of defeating the four home unions for the first time since 1984.
Joe Schmidt’s team had beaten England and Wales, but the loss in Edinburgh brought the Wallabies crashing back to earth as their breakdown was dominated and they were overrun by some spectacular attacking rugby.
Australia finishes their tour in Ireland next weekend but will be without Suaalii, who faces several weeks on the sideline with a suspected broken wrist.
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Suaalii was attempting a tackle on Scottish captain Sione Tuipulotu, who was cutting back inside, and the 21-year-old immediately reeled away holding his wrist.
After Suaalii and Tuipulotu engaged in a heated exchange, Suaalii was taken off the field in the 30th minute for a head injury assessment test, but upon returning from the tunnel immediately took his seat on the Wallabies bench with an ice pack on his wrist.
The Wallabies camp initially believed he’d suffered a broken arm, but will await scans and are hopeful it may not be that severe. A broken wrist would put in doubt his potential start for the NSW Waratahs in next year’s Super Rugby season that kicks off on February 14.
Prior to the injury, Suaalii was in superb form, making some big hits in defence, carrying strongly and again winning kick-off ball.
Andrew Kellaway moved from the wing to fill the outside centre position, while Max Jorgensen came off the bench on to the wing.
Australian born and bred Tuipulotu had earlier scored his team’s first try, barging through Kellaway and Len Ikitau off a long lineout throw in the 21st minute.
That converted try cancelled out Noah Lolesio’s 11th-minute penalty goal.
The Wallabies turned down three kickable penalty goals to go for the try in the first half, but came up empty with lineout errors or breakdown turnovers.
Finn Russell kicked a penalty goal in the 44th minute to extend Scotland’s lead to 10-3, but that was negated one minute later when Lolesio kicked his second to bring them to 10-6.
But the Scots turned on the jets with some brilliant running rugby, as the Wallabies chased them from left to right over the field.
Winger Duhan van der Merwe finished a sweeping spread sparked by Russell in the 51st minute that had the Edinburgh crowd in raptures. Russell’s sideline conversion put them 17-6 ahead.
Australia missed a golden opportunity to hit back 12 minutes later when Scotland lost a lineout and Rob Valetini kicked the ball upfield.
Jorgensen regathered the ball and passed to Tate McDermott who was pulled down short of the line. McDermott was able to get back to his feet for the ensuing ruck, but instead of going through the hands the replacement halfback went for a cross-field kick that was intercepted by Tuipulotu.
Rubbing salt into the wounds, Scotland scored their third try minutes later when winger Darcy Graham made a midfield break, and found replacement flanker Josh Bayliss lurking wide.
Bayliss fended off Harry Wilson and got around Ikitau’s tackle to barge over.
Russell scored Scotland’s fourth try in the 71st minute to seal the deal, finishing a brilliant sequence started from a powerful van der Merwe break that had the Wallabies defence reeling.
At 27-6, Australia needed some consolation points and it was delivered with five minutes remaining through debutant winger Harry Potter, who pounced on a McDermott kick through and managed to ground the ball before his foot hit the deadball line.
But this was most certainly Scotland’s day, and they’ve put down a marker for how the British & Irish Lions will approach their tour to Australia next year.
They flooded the breakdown and pressured the Wallabies repeatedly, and the playmaking duo of Russell and Tuipulotu would be favoured to start at 10 and 12 for the Lions
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