Fractured jaw discovered after Joseph-Aukuso Suallii KO blow puts Wallabies star in race against time for Lions Tour
Updated . First published at
A fractured jaw discovered by medical staff several days after Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was knocked out of the Waratahs' clash with the Reds has put him in a race against time to be fit for the Lions series.
The Waratahs on Wednesday released a statement revealing Suaalii would need a minor operation to reinforce his jaw, definitively ending his Super Rugby Pacific season and potentially putting his involvement for the Wallabies in the first Test of the Lions series in doubt.
The first Test of the iconic series will be played at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, July 19, which is 67 days away.
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According to the Waratahs' statement, Suaalii's condition will be reviewed four weeks after he has surgery, which could potentially clear him to return to play by mid-June.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii lies prone after being knocked out of the Waratahs v Reds clash. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Super Rugby final will be played on June 21, with the Lions kicking off their tour with a match against Argentina on the same date. Their first match in Australia is on the following Saturday, June 28, against the Western Force in Perth.
Suaalii was knocked out in an ugly incident that turned the game on Friday night, with the Waratahs leading 14-7 late in the first half when the star fullback had to be stretchered from the field after his head caught the knee of Waratahs teammate Andrew Kellaway.
Initial reports indicated that Suaalii had been concussed but had not suffered any structural damage, with the Waratahs' statement on Wednesday shedding new light on the 21-year-old's condition.
The statement said that after initially settling well in his recovery, Suaalii had developed soreness, with further tests revealing he had a "small undisplaced fracture of the jaw".
Waratahs coach Dan McKellar admitted the updated diagnosis was "unfortunate".
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"We will do all we can to facilitate his recovery in consultation with Rugby Australia to have him in the best shape possible for his availability for the Wallabies," McKellar said.
The latest news comes after Sonny Bill Williams encouraged Suaalii to maintain his "physicality" when he gets back onto the field, adding that he should potentially be picked at fullback to put him out of the defensive firing line.
"His style of play, I think potentially, to save his style of play, maybe keep him at the back there (No.15) for a bit," Williams told Wide World of Sports and The Sydney Morning Herald.
"From what I've seen, he's one for the future. He's one that's going to add a lot of value to this green and gold outfit."
