Wallabies’ centre crisis for All Blacks showdown as Les Kiss issues verdict on Joseph Sua’ali’i trial
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and an inset of Hunter Paisami's tackle on Sacha Feinberg-Mnogmezulu.
Les Kiss could be without both of his starting centres that faced the Springboks when Australia take on the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup.
Len Ikitau and Hunter Paisami combined in the midfield as the Wallabies claimed a shock 42-38 victory over South Africa in Perth, with Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i shifting to the wing.
Ikitau injured, Paisami cited
The selection gamble paid off in spades, with Sua’ali’i impressing under the high ball, but the ploy looks unlikely to feature against the All Blacks as Paisami has been cited while Ikitau has sustained an ankle injury.
Speaking after the victory over the Boks, head coach Kiss said that the Wallabies will be keeping tabs on Ikitau.
“It’s just an ankle,” he said.
“We don’t know anything further other than that; we’re just going to be very precautionary with it now and just see where it is.”
Meanwhile, SANZAAR have confirmed that Paisami will face a Foul Play Review Committee for his tackle on Springboks fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the 75th minute.
Referee Andrea Piardi issued a yellow card to the midfielder and sent the decision to be reviewed by the Foul Play Review officer. It was not made clear whether the sanction was upgraded to a 20-minute red card before the final whistle, but SANZAAR have confirmed that Paisami has been cited for his actions.
“This matter will be considered in the first instance by the SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee on the evening of Tuesday 29 September,” a statement read.
“For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the players must accept that foul play occurred, that the red card threshold was met, and the penalty proposed by the Committee. A further update on this matter will be provided on Wednesday 30 September.”
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Verdict on Sua’ali’i’s performance against South Africa
Ikitau and Sua’ali’i have been the go-to centre pairing for the Wallabies in recent times and could rekindle that partnership in the Bledisloe Cup Test at Eden Park on October 10 if the former recovers in time. Kiss could also turn to Isaac Henry, who featured against Japan and Argentina, in the number 13 jersey.
The Wallabies boss also said that Sua’ali’i could be an option at full-back for Australia.
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“It’s there for us,” Kiss said when asked about Sua’ali’i’s performance on the wing against South Africa.
“I can play him at 15 too. I think tonight he found some good spaces; we could have got him to better spaces at times, but it suited that plan with the aerial battle.
“The back three were pretty good tonight, but we can use him at 13 and wing quite readily now.”
