Waratahs star unlikely to play Crusaders amid Wallabies concerns
Zac Lomax helped the Western Force become the third Australian team to beat the Crusaders this season, but former Origin team-mate Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s chances of helping the Waratahs complete a clean sweep in New Zealand on Friday look slim.
Suaalii is recovering from a hamstring injury he sustained during the warm-up to the Waratahs’ defeat against the Hurricanes in March.
It was announced that he would face a six to eight week rehabilitation period. The six-week window will end this week and the Waratahs will face the Crusaders on the opening night of the Super Tour. This will also be the grand opening of the new A$560 million stadium in Christchurch, meaning a sold-out 25,000-seat stand and a lively atmosphere under the roof.
The Waratahs’ first victory in Christchurch since 2004 would be a spoiler for the all-time party.
But after indicating last week that Suaalii could return to the blockbuster, coach Dan McKellar tempered his optimism on Friday night, saying risk appetite is too low when it comes to the superstar center.
“He trained well today, had a really good session. So yeah, it’s close,” McKellar said.
“I hope he’s playing. Nobody wants him to play more than us and of course Joseph himself, like all the fans and supporters.”
“But unfortunately we have to be patient and make sure he’s ready because the last thing we want to do is expose him before he reveals he wasn’t right and then all of a sudden we see him a few months later.”
The Tahs fly to New Zealand on Thursday, a factor that could require further attention for a hamstring injury.
The Waratahs are owned by Rugby Australia, meaning the Wallabies’ priorities for July’s Tests will be a strong factor – if not the deciding factor – in Suaalii’s return.
The list of injured Wallabies or players who have spent time on the sidelines this year is already a cause for concern for coach Joe Schmidt. Prop Angus Bell was taken off the field for the Ulster-Leinster clash in Ireland on Saturday morning and is awaiting scans on his ankle injury to find out whether he will miss the July Tests against France, Ireland and Italy.
Will Skelton (Achilles) is out this year and England-based Len Ikitau (shoulder) and Tom Hooper (knee) have both been out for extended periods this year. At home, Tate McDermott (hamstring), Charlie Cale (shoulder) and Carter Gordon (knee) are sidelined, with Tom Lynagh playing a light game and Tom Wright (knee) and Allan Alaalatoa (back) recently returning from injury.
The good news for Schmidt is that new signing Lomax put in a promising performance on his Crusaders debut against the Force in Perth on Saturday, in which the code-switcher scored a try in the 31-26 win.
Wallaby trio Dylan Pietsch, Jeremy Williams and Carlo Tizzano also shone and Ben Donaldson went further for a Wallabies return with a dominant effort at No.10.
In just his second game, Lomax secured the high ball, scored a try and played a part in another.
“He had a lot of great touches,” Force coach Simon Cron said of Lomax. “He’s been great in the air, he’s had a great try, he’s finding his feet, he’s very eager to learn. He brings a dominant voice to the backline. He’s only going to get better.”
The Crusaders have lost all their matches against their Australian opponents this year, following defeats against the Brumbies, Reds and Force, leaving the Waratahs with the chance of a clean sweep of Australia for the first time in Super Rugby history.
Speaking before the Force’s win, McKellar said the Reds’ victory over the Crusaders was a mistake, but the Waratahs could take a lot from the Brumbies’ second-round win; It was their first time in Christchurch in 26 years. NSW have won just once in 16 visits in 2004.
“We have to make sure we rise to that challenge and come out with the right level of intent and aggression, and not just do it for 20 minutes, but stay in it,” McKellar said.
“What the Brumbies did well was they stayed in the game and in the 60th minute everyone thought the Brumbies were going to take a tumble. They finished the game on top of the Crusaders and that’s a good example for everyone.”
The Force seemed to be heeding the same lesson. The Crusaders took a 19-0 lead, but pulled level again after halftime. They fell behind again until Harry Johnson-Holmes took the lead for the first time with a try in the 71st minute.
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Iain Payten is senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
