Wallabies sweat on stars for Bledisloe as RA chases answers on ‘phone-gate’

The Wallabies’ hopes of following up their Optus Stadium heroics with a drought-breaking victory over the All Blacks in Auckland next week have been given a boost, with Len Ikitau’s ankle injury not as serious as first feared.

Ikitau’s potential availability for the first Bledisloe Cup Test came as Rugby Australia confirmed that they are investigating the cause of the communications breakdown that led to the bizarre scene of referee Andrea Piardi speaking to the television match official on a mobile phone on Sunday night.

The referee communications problem was one of many elements of high drama in Perth, in which the Wallabies held on for an unbelievable victory despite being reduced to 11 men in the last 10 minutes.

Ikitau hobbled off with an ankle injury in the second half – and was later seen in a moon boot – and centre partner Hunter Paisami was later cited for a high tackle that earned him one of four yellow cards. Paisami’s case will be initially heard before the SANZAAR foul play review committee on Tuesday night.

If found guilty the No.12 faces a suspension that could keep him out of the first Bledisloe Cup clash at Eden Park on October 10. Australia hasn’t won at the venue since 1986, and the All Blacks haven’t lost there to anyone since 1994.

Along with Taniela Tupou and Tom Hooper returning to their clubs in Paris and Exeter respectively, and in-form lock Josh Canham also in doubt with a hamstring injury, the Wallabies face the prospect of five stars missing from the opening Bledisloe clash.

Ahead of Les Kiss confirming his squad on Wednesday, however, the news on Ikitau appears more positive than first feared. There was concern the star centre – who scored two tries against the Springboks – had suffered a syndesmosis injury, which usually has a six-to-12 week recovery period and can require surgery.

Ikitau has scans on Monday but sources with knowledge of the situation say the John Eales medallist is confident the injury is not a worst-case scenario and he may be able to play against the All Blacks. Ikitau missed the Japan Tests in August after having clean-up surgery on the same ankle.

The contingency planning for the Wallabies’ midfield would mean Isaac Henry and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii returning to the centres, and Jordan Petaia may also be an option after joining the squad last week in Perth.

But Kiss will be crossing his fingers that Ikitau is available, given his importance on a range of fronts: as a ball-player, game manager, defensive bulwark and open-field attacker. He crossed the gain line against the vaunted Springbok defence in 80 per cent of his carries in Perth.

Tupou and Hooper are also big losses. Tupou helped lock down the Wallabies scrum against the Boks, and Hooper was a work-rate machine in the crazy final minutes.

Meanwhile, Rugby Australia are seeking answers after Piardi was forced to speak to his television match official on a mobile phone due to issues with his communications device during the closing stages of Sunday’s Test victory against South Africa.

The issue comes just over a year before Australia host the Rugby World Cup. As host nation, RA utilised its regular supplier of referee communications for one-off home Tests, Gravity Media. RA has used the company to supply this technology for more than 10 years without incident.

Gravity Media is also listed as one of five companies approved to provide referee communications services at its tournaments, including next year’s World Cup.

In a statement provided to this masthead, RA acknowledged the technological difficulties for the match officials on Sunday.

“Rugby Australia acknowledges that match officials’ communications were affected by a technical issue during Sunday’s Test between the Wallabies and South Africa in Perth.

“Further information is currently being sought from the relevant third-party service provider to understand the cause of the issue and ensure appropriate measures are taken to prevent a recurrence.”

Piardi was forced to use a mobile phone after 69 minutes to speak to television match official Matteo Liparini to confirm that Wallabies captain Harry Wilson had made a high tackle and would receive a yellow card.

After 73 minutes, Piardi explained to Wallabies stand-in captain Jeremy Williams and South Africa skipper Andre Esterhuizen that he was finding it challenging to officiate without his normal technology to talk to his television match official.

Referee communication issues had also plagued the Springboks’ last Test against New Zealand in Baltimore.

Referee Karl Dickson was forced to stop the game for eight minutes and 53 minutes midway through the first half, with officials unable to communicate with each other.

World Rugby and Gravity Media were contacted for comment.

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