Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Injury carnage has rocked the Wallabies’ midfield while the All Blacks were also left counting the costs of their Bledisloe Cup-retaining Auckland smashing.
Australian coach Les Kiss has been forced to search far and wide for centre cover after Len Ikitau’s concussion and Jordan Petaia’s (ankle) training injury ruled them out of this Saturday’s Sydney rematch.
Victory extended the All Blacks’ hold on the Cup to 24 years and improved their Eden Park unbeaten run against all-comers to 54 games. It was also the side’s 11th-straight defeat of the Wallabies, who haven’t won a Test in New Zealand since 2001.
Petaia shaped as a likely replacement in Sydney for reigning player of the year Ikitau, who left Saturday’s 50-19 Eden Park loss with concussion inside the first half hour.
But the former Queensland Reds talent, who since had an NFL cameo, season in French rugby and is currently signed in Japan, boarded a separate flight to Brisbane wearing a moon boot on Sunday morning.
Kiss is already without the suspended Hunter Paisami, while influential lock Josh Canham (hamstring) and the unavailable Europe-based forwards Taniela Tupou and Tom Hooper were missed in Auckland.
Centre options Josh Flook (Achilles) and Treyvon Pritchard (ankle) are both recovering from long-term injuries.
Instead, speedy winger Corey Toole and his ACT Brumbies teammate Kadin Pritchard, a centre and Treyvon’s older brother, will join the squad in Sydney later on Sunday.
It will be 22-year-old Pritchard’s first time in Wallabies camp.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who had been establishing himself as a wing threat, was moved back into the centres after Ikitau’s injury to partner Isaac Henry.
Versatile back Filipo Daugunu is another option currently with the squad.
The All Blacks on Sunday ruled out four of their own, with Asafo Aumua and Anton Segner (concussion), Leroy Carter (ankle) and Ethan Blackadder (calf) – who wasn’t even playing but hurt himself in the warm-up – all casualties.
Hurricanes flanker Du’plessis Kirifi is among those added to the squad, displaying the depth at coach Dave Rennie’s disposal.
Ikitau’s absence in particular only adds to the task ahead of a side that scored first and could have led again early in the second half, before the All Blacks completely dominated the final 30 minutes.
Australia’s aerial game that was so impressive in a win against South Africa a fortnight ago was nowhere to be seen at a venue they remain winless at since 1986, 24 Tests ago.
Donaldson, wearing the No.10 for the third-straight Test after waiting almost two years between starts, pulled off a brilliant tip-pass that sent Tom Wright over for the game’s opening try.
And his exchange with Harry Wilson sent the captain over for a try late in the first half to make it a three-point game.
But his and halfback Ryan Lonergan’s in-game kicking did not compare to All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard’s, while Damian McKenzie ran riot in the No.10 and centre Jordie Barrett was a monster in defence.
“They’re the small margins, right? Me and Lonners (Lonergan) were just having a chat in there,” Donaldson said.
“Against the Boks our kicking game we thought was quite good and then today, you know, might be 10 per cent off, but that adds up in the end.”
Carter Gordon is recovering from a broken leg and Kiss is reluctant to call in a veteran playmaker like James O’Connor or Bernard Foley, with Declan Meredith and uncapped Harry McLaughlin-Phillips the other No.10s in the squad.
“You never know how many opportunities you’re going to get and you don’t want to mess up that opportunity that you do get,” Donaldson said.
“But if you’re thinking about messing it up or failing or whatever, you’re probably already gone.
“So I dial into my prep and then come out and just have fun on game day.
“Les has given me full license just to play from wherever; kick, run, pass.
“There was some good patches but myself and the team were far from our best.”
