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Waratahs and Wallabies star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will face a period on the sidelines after leaving the field in a neck brace on a medical cart in his side’s 28-21 loss against the Reds in Sydney.
Suaalii was injured attempting to make a tackle on Reds centre Filipo Daugunu when he accidentally caught the knee of his teammate Andrew Kellaway, who was getting cleared out of a ruck.
As Suaalii lay motionless on the turf and play continued, Daugunu stayed beside his international teammate to protect him from further harm in an act of impressive sportsmanship.
The Wallabies coaching staff, led by Joe Schmidt, were at Allianz Stadium ready to enjoy a late audition ahead of the arrival of the British and Irish Lions in seven weeks.
Ultimately, what they got was a rainy night of nerves, with Reds five-eighth Tom Lynagh also being forced to leave the field just before half after taking a knock to the head in a tense contest where three yellow cards were shown.
“I thought when we played on the front foot tonight we looked really good,” Waratahs skipper Jake Gordon said on Stan Sport. “We had a few poor moments.
“Small margins against good teams hurt.”
Rookie centre Henry O’Donnell put the Waratahs into the lead with an early try after patient play by the NSW forwards who refused to be intimidated by the Reds’ defence. Hooker Dave Porecki and loose-head prop Angus Bell deserved credit for their role in making hard yards.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is taken off the field during the Waratahs’ clash with the Reds.Credit: Getty Images
The Waratahs forward pack had been humiliated in Canberra against the Brumbies and responded with a brutally physical approach led by Porecki in his return match.
After a brilliant break from No.8 Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon took a leaf out of his Wallaby teammate Tate McDermott’s book with a sniping break to send his side 14-0 up.
Regardless of momentum, the Waratahs are seemingly incapable of making it a simple evening.
After pressuring the Reds line and looking like extending their lead, Wallabies breakaway Fraser McReight ripped the ball from Bell to set a length of the field chase, with McDermott finishing his own sniping try.
The rain began to fall heavily and changed the Waratahs’ night completely. Prop Dan Botha was yellow-carded for an illegal cleanout of Reds’ second-rower Josh Canham and Suaalii left the field for medical attention after taking Kellaway’s knee directly to his face.
Angus Bell takes a carry for the Waratahs. Credit: Getty Images
In the chaos of managing Suaalii’s departure alongside Botha, who was still off the field, Richie Asiata crashed over and levelled the scores for the Reds.
The Reds’ revival was stalled by a careless yellow-card to Canham for a needless head high shot on Porecki, which left a weakened pack and provided the perfect platform for Taniela Tupou to score.
Tupou’s night had started well, but turned dramatically after the prop had to leave the field for ten minutes after making head contact with Reds’ centre Dre Pakeho. He left the field before Josh Nasser scored a simple rolling maul try just metres from the Waratahs line in the increasingly sodden Allianz Stadium turf.
The Waratahs had a late opportunity to go back into the lead after a break from Kellaway which drew the Reds’ defence. However, he failed to provide a clean pass as the ball slipped through replacement winger Darby Lancaster’s fingers with the line at his mercy.
Minutes later, Daugunu punished the Waratahs, hitting a perfectly weighted kick for his right-winger Lachie Anderson to scoop up on the wet turf and put the Reds into a 28-21 lead where the score stayed.
The Waratahs not only lost their unbeaten home record and put their chances of making finals in further doubt, but far more pressingly, they will be left to sweat on the health of their star player in Suaalii.
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It’s all over in Sydney as the Reds boot the ball out to steal a seven-point win and their second victory of the season against the Waratahs.
28-21 is the final scoreline.
It took 76 minutes for the Waratahs to find themselves behind in this match.
That’ll be a really tough one to take. Hard to see the Waratahs forcing their way into the top six now with matches to come against the Crusaders (home), Western Force (away) and Crusaders (away).
Taniela Tupou was immense when he was on the field but a yellow card in the 67th minute, with his team up 21-14, influenced the match.
Try-scorers: Henry O’Donnell (9′), Jake Gordon (20′), Tate McDermott (28′), Richie Asiata (39′), Taniela Tupou (52′), Josh Nasser (68′) and Lachie Anderson (76′).
The visitors have got themselves in front courtesy of Lachie Anderson.
He dives over down the right edge after a beautiful crossfield kick from Filipo Daugunu.
The conversion is good as the Reds lead 28-21 with four minutes remaining.
Tate McDermott kicks. Credit: Getty Images
The Waratahs win a lineout – Ryan Smith pushes a NSW player – but can’t retain possession from the next throw.
Queensland are parked down their end as NSW find the ball but can’t take a slight chance down the right edge. Kellaway’s last pass is ordinary and doesn’t hit Darby Lancaster out wide. Should have done better there.
21-21 after 73 minutes
Some sloppy play from the Reds – their passes just aren’t sticking like we’ve seen this season – sees them turn the ball over. Andrew Kellaway kicks it forward to put the visitors under immense pressure.
Minutes later, the Reds get into field position again but Dre Pakeho drops the ball.
Hang on. Taniela Tupou is shown a yellow card. Head-on-head contact with Pakeho. Made no attempt to drop his body height.
How costly could that be in the final few minutes? Tupou will have three minutes when he comes back on. Unless it’s upgraded to a red.
Yep. There it is. Josh Nasser does the business for the Reds with a try. Scores are now level.
To be a fly on the wall in the Waratahs coaching box.
21-21 after 68 minutes
Tupou is involved in another dominant NSW scrum but it’s pulled back for swinging around.
The Reds finally get some decent back line movement before Charlie Gamble gets another turnover for the Waratahs. The men in sky blue are finding a way to stay in this contest.
Angus Bell comes from the field after a great 62-minute shift.
Waratahs lead 21-14 after 62 minutes
Seru Uru of the Queensland Reds. Credit: Getty Images
Here he is. Taniela Tupou is introduced in the 50th minute as the Waratahs re-pack a scrum.
Scrum reset now. That was close. Tupou looks like a man on a mission tonight.
Boom. Tupou helps to win a scrum penalty. NSW ascendancy in that area tonight.
BANG. Now he scores a try. All muscle there from Tupou close to the line down the left edge. His teammates mob him.
He gets the Waratahs ahead.
Waratahs lead 21-14 after 53 minutes
Head-on-head contact sees Josh Canham heading to the sidelines for a 10-minute stint.
Hits Dave Porecki high. That will be reviewed and it might be upgraded to a red card. Not a lot of mitigation for mine and hits Porecki hard. We will see.
14-14 after 45 minutes
Tom Lynagh of the Queensland Reds kicks through. Credit: Getty Images
“I think it looks like a head knock,” said Waratahs coach Dan McKellar when asked about Suaalii. “I haven’t seen him yet. It’s a head knock that made him fairly groggy.”
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii of the NSW Waratahs is taken off the field. Credit: Getty Images
