Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii could be available to play against Ireland on Saturday after the Wallabies’ medical staff ruled out any structural damage to his wrist after the Test rookie appeared to injure it in Sunday’s 14-point defeat against Scotland.
Suaalii hurt his right wrist after tackling Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu with only 30 minutes gone in the game. The centre immediately left the field after losing function in his arm and experiencing severe pain but is recovering well enough to take part in training this week in Dublin ahead of the Wallabies’ final Test of the year.
Suaalii was only starting his second game for the Wallabies, after his impressive debut against England and an 18-minute appearance off the bench against Wales. The early loss of Suaalii made life even more difficult for the Wallabies, with three tries conceded in his absence.
Second-rower Jeremy Williams is also available for selection for the Wallabies against Ireland after illness ruled him out of the matchday squad just before kick-off against Scotland. Williams’ return is timely given Will Skelton has returned to his club La Rochelle in France, due to the Ireland Test falling outside World Rugby’s designated international window.
The Wallabies are the chosen opponents for the Irish Rugby Football Union’s 150th-anniversary celebrations and will hope for an improved performance after being so clinically dispatched in Edinburgh.
Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa revealed the team’s bitter disappointment after the game in Edinburgh at losing the opportunity of playing for a Grand Slam on Saturday.
“The feeling in there was tough, like no one said a word, you could see the body language of the boys straight after the game,” Alaalatoa said. “Because there was real belief, that we could win the Grand Slam and that came through the way that we prepared throughout the whole year and the way that the whole squad has contributed.
“So that’s footy I guess, and it wasn’t our night … so we push on to the next goal, which is to beat Ireland in Dublin.”
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii on the ground after getting injured.Credit: Getty Images
The Wallabies conceded 14 penalties in Edinburgh, their second-highest total under coach Joe Schmidt, only bettered by 15 against South Africa in their first game of the Rugby Championship in July.
Alaalatoa experienced not only the frustration of the team’s disciplinary errors, but also the failure of their defensive system, after the team missed 34 tackles.
“Especially around that first half, it was probably just the quality of our tackle, just finishing off those tackles … our discipline, which are things that we can control,” Alaalatoa said. “So that’s the message for us as leaders, and through the coaches as well, that the momentum we gave them was through things that we can control.”
Like the Wallabies, Ireland have two victories and one defeat in November, winning against Fiji and Argentina and losing to New Zealand. Alaalatoa is aware of the scale of the challenge in Dublin, but is motivated by upsetting the form book.
“(It’s) very important, Ireland obviously have been number one in the world for a while now, or number one and number two, and they’ve been a quality side for years, so we know how important this is, but I think more so for ourselves as well,” Alaalatoa said.
“To come away three (wins) and one (defeat) will be awesome for our group. So, yeah, the boys are well aware of the challenge ahead, off the back of a short turn around. I’m sure the boys will prepare really well for it.”
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