Bledisloe Cup hopes rocked as Wallabies star cited for brutal collision

The Wallabies are facing a potential Bledisloe Cup centre crisis after Hunter Paisami was cited for a dangerous tackle on Monday.

Paisami was one of four Australian players yellow carded by referee Andrea Piardi during a bizarre finish to the Wallabies’ 42-38 upset of the Springboks on Sunday.

But SANZAAR officials have decided that the 76th minute head clash with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu warranted further scrutiny.

“This matter will be considered in the first instance by the SANZAAR foul play review committee on the evening of Tuesday 29 September,” a statement read.

“For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the players must accept that foul play occurred, that the red card threshold was met, and the penalty proposed by the committee. A further update on this matter will be provided on Wednesday 30 September.”

The in-form Paisami started at No.12 in Perth, with two-try hero Len Ikitau outside him to accommodate Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s successful switch to the wing.

Ikitau is also in doubt for the Bledisloe Cup opener at Auckland’s Eden Park on October 10, after limping off the Optus Stadium pitch with an ankle injury in the 53rd minute.

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"We don't know anything further other than we've just got to be very precautionary with it now and just see where it is," Kiss said.

Suaalii may well be asked to revert to the midfield, while Isaac Henry also looms as a potential replacement.

“It’s there for us,” Kiss said when asked if he would keep Suaalii on the wing. 

“I mean, I can play him at 15 too. Tonight, he found some good spaces. We could have got him to better spaces at times, but it suited their plan with the aerial battle.”

The All Blacks do have injury issues of their own, with captain Ardie Savea headlining a long list of big names on the sideline.

New Zealand coach Dave Rennie - the ex-Wallabies boss - will name a 34-man squad on Tuesday.

More to come…

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