Wallaby goes down as injury carnage strikes Tahs stars

Injury carnage in the backline led NSW to a devastating 57-12 loss to the Hurricanes, and there are fears Wallabies star Max Jorgensen could be sidelined for some time.

Max Jorgensen was injured in the Waratah’s heavy loss to the Hurricanes. Picture: Getty Images

Injury carnage in the backline led NSW to a devastating 57-12 loss to the Hurricanes, and there are fears that Max Jorgensen could be sidelined for some time.

The Waratahs lost Jorgensen and five-eighth Lawson Creighton in the opening 22 minutes, and by the end of the first half had all three backline reserves on the field with halfback Teddy Wilson forced onto the wing in chaotic scenes.

NSW skipper Joey Walton, who was sin-binned in the second half, summed it up best.

“Everything that could go wrong went wrong for us,” Walton said.

Jorgensen, who started at fullback, lasted just 12 minutes before injuring his left ankle. He fell awkwardly with his ankle twisting under a tackle by Canes backrower Braydon Iose, and hobbled off.

It was a tough night for the Waratahs, who welcomed more players to the growing casualty ward. Picture: Getty Images

He sat barefooted on the sidelines thereafter, although there was no ice pack or strapping on the ankle.

The returning Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, named at outside centre, played fullback for the remainder of the match.

Creighton suffered a head knock 10 minutes later, and failed his head injury assessment, which saw Tane Edmed join Lalakai Foketi off the bench.

In the 38th minute, winger Darby Lancaster was taken off for a head injury assessment and while he would later pass, NSW finished the first half with Wilson on the wing and reserve halfback Jack Grant racing in to plug holes amid the disarray.

Waratahs halfback Teddy Wilson spent time on the wing. Picture: Getty Images

But within that, the Tahs were thoroughly dominated at the breakdown while their lineouts were wayward, allowing the Canes to run away with the game having led 24-7 at half-time.

NSW briefly threatened a comeback when Archie Saunders scored a try on debut in the 44th minute, making it 24-12, but it was only a fleeting chance.

Walton was sin-binned for collapsing a maul in the 51st minute that also resulted in a penalty try for the Canes, and the floodgates opened.

Winger Ngantungane Punivai was next to score, taking an outrageous 25 metre back flip pass from fullback Ruben Love to cross in the corner.

By the 68th minute the half-century was up when centre Bailyn Sullivan was first to a charge-down and slid over the line.

Winger Kini Naholo completed his hat-trick by barging over Lancaster in the corner in the final minute.

Kini Naholo scored a hat trick for the Hurricanes. Picture: Getty Images

This was only NSW’s second loss of the season, and while they have injured stars Jake Gordon and Dave Porecki to return, the manner of this defeat will give headaches to coach Dan McKellar.

The Canes outmuscled them in defence, and the ease with which they turned over breakdown possession had little to do with the injuries.

The match turned within the space of three minutes late in the first half.

The Canes led 10-7 in the 35th minute, and then 24-7 in the 38th, which set NSW a daunting mountain to climb.

Archie Saunders scores a superb try for the NSW Waratahs. Picture: Getty Images

NSW had scored first, in the fifth minute, when Creighton ran onto a deft pass from Wilson.

Byt Naholo finished a brilliant backline spread just three minutes later.

With the forced backline reshuffle, the Tahs struggled to adjust as the Canes pressured their line, and eventually Naholo crossed for his second when he beat Wilson one-on-one in the 19th minute.

Hooker Asafo Aumua scored the third try for Wellington in the 36th minute, and then went 75 metres from the kickoff with halfback Cam Roigard finishing a stunning break to give the hosts a 17-point lead at the break.

The Tahs are on the first plane back to Sydney on Saturday morning, which the players will be grateful for given the result.

They’ll regroup at home, before travelling back across the Tasman late next week for the game against Moana Pasifika in North Harbour on April 5.

Originally published as Wallaby goes down as injury carnage strikes Tahs stars