Wallabies star to face the music for high shot on Sacha

SPOTLIGHT: The Wallabies are facing a double blow in the centres heading into the upcoming Bledisloe Cup series, with Len Ikitau and Hunter Paisami in doubt to face the All Blacks.

Ikitau scored two tries before injuring his ankle in the second half of Sunday’s pulsating 42-38 win over South Africa in front of 54,678 fans at Optus Stadium.

And Paisami could also be set for a stint on the sidelines after being cited for a dangerous tackle in the dying stages of the 10-try thriller.

Paisami’s head and shoulder connected with the face of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu just a moment after the Springboks back had dished off a pass.

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee will hear the matter on Tuesday, and any suspension will be a big blow to the Wallabies’ hopes of regaining the Bledisloe Cup.

Ikitau could barely put any weight on his right ankle as he limped from the field in the 53rd minute.

The 27-year-old had been blistering up until that point, unleashing a mesmerising 40m run to go with his two tries.

Ikitau will undergo further assessment upon his return home, with coach Les Kiss unsure about the extent of the injury to the reigning John Eales Medallist.

“We’ve just got to be very precautionary with it now and just see where it is,” Kiss said.

Australia face the All Blacks at Eden Park on October 10, before the return bout in Sydney on October 17.

The availability of Ikitau and Paisami will play a key role in how the Wallabies deploy former NRL star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

Suaalii had played at outside centre for his first 24 Tests, but had his first international start on the wing on Sunday to counter South Africa’s aerial game.

The move worked a treat, with Suaalii pulling off several clutch plays under high balls to help put the Wallabies into a winning position.

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

“I mean, I can play him at 15 too.”

Kiss has hailed the spirit and connection of the change room for getting Australia over the line in one of the most bizarre finishes to a Test match he’s ever seen.

The Wallabies led 42-17 following Max Jorgensen’s breakaway try in the 64th minute, before Harry Wilson, Ryan Lonergan, Suaalii and Paisami were all sent off in the space of seven minutes at the tail-end of the match.

It meant Australia were reduced to just 11 men from the 76th minute to the 80th minute, and they produced a series of barnstorming tackles to ensure they sealed victory.

“It was bizarre, for sure. I definitely have not seen anything like that,” Kiss said after the match.

“The last 10 minutes, that’s got very little to do with coaching.

“These boys, what they have built in the locker room, the heartbeat of any club as I say, is that they are a tight group.

“Their connection piece is strong. They care deeply about what they are doing in this jersey, and we saw that tonight in that last 10 minutes.”

The Wallabies have posted four wins and a draw in five matches since Kiss took over as coach.

The hot run bodes well for next year’s World Cup, and Wallabies skipper Wilson loves what he’s seeing behind the scenes.

“Les is real big on that care, the care for the jersey, the care for the person beside you,” Wilson said.

“And, geez, the boys showed that. We’re versing the Springboks with 11 men, and every try the Springboks scored the boys made them work, which took more time off the clock, which ultimately got us a victory in the end.

“I’m so proud of those boys.”