Australia wonderkid Joseph Sua'ali'i faces race to be fit for British & Irish Lions series after suffering broken jaw
Australia wonderkid Joseph Sua'ali'i faces a race against time to be fit to take on the British & Irish Lions this summer after he suffered a broken jaw.
The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the Wallabies ' brightest prospects after his high-profile switch to union from rugby league.
He was outstanding in what was remarkably his first professional game of 15-a-side rugby when Australia beat England at Twickenham last autumn.
But Sua'ali'i's latest injury, which will require surgery and will keep him out for at least a month, means he is now a big doubt to face Andy Farrell's Lions Down Under.
The news is a significant headache for Australia head coach Joe Schmidt as Sua'ali'i would be certain to be involved in the Test series if fit.
Sua'ali'i was initially diagnosed with concussion after being placed in a neck brace and carried off in the match between his Waratahs side and Queensland Reds last Friday.
But subsequent scans revealed a fractured jaw which will bring an end to his involvement in Australia's domestic season.
There is a little over two months until the Test series between the Lions and Australia begins with the opener slated for Brisbane on July 19.
'This is unfortunate for us and especially for Joseph. We wish him all the best in his recovery and return to full health,' former Leicester boss and now Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said.
'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.'
Sua'ali'i has had his fair share of injury problems since moving to union.
And he is not the only fitness concern for Australia ahead of the hotly-anticipated Lions series.
Sua'ali'i, here in action for the Waratahs, wowed on his first professional game against England
Wallabies No 10 Noah Lolesio has suffered a worrying back injury which although described as 'not serious' will force him to spend at least two weeks on the sidelines.
'It was fairly nasty,' Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham said of Lolesio's blow.
'He's been cleared of anything serious in terms of fractures and we're treating it as a day-by-day prospect at this stage. He's looking pretty good at the moment.
'He should be running by the end of the week, which is really good news, and hopefully that means he's back on track for our next game against the Crusaders.
'We're very thankful nothing serious has happened.
'But I think he would certainly have some mental elements he'd have to get over before he can get back out on the field.'
While Australia have undoubtedly improved with Schmidt in charge after their terrible 2023 World Cup campaign under former England coach Eddie Jones, they do not have huge strength in depth.
That is why Sua'ali'i's impending operation will be such a concern to Schmidt.
The Australia coach had emphasised the need for his best players to be playing regular rugby ahead of the Lions series to stay in tip-top physical condition.
'I'm keen to see him keep playing. I think that he's missed a few games already this season,' Schmidt said of Sua'ali'i earlier this week and prior to news of his fractured jaw.
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