The much-anticipated Wallabies accumulation of the British & Irish Lions series has been hit hard. Joseph Oakso Suari’s Super Rugby season was almost certainly over due to a broken jaw.
Suari was carried from Allianz Stadium at Medicab last Friday night in the first half of Waratah’s seven-point loss against the Crusaders.
However, on Wednesday, Waratah confirmed Star Recruit’s diagnosis was significantly worsening, revealing that he had suffered from a small jaw fracture.
“Joseph Oakso Suaari maintained a concussion with Queensland Reds, managed by the Matchday Medical Team at NSW Waratah’s Super Rugby Pacific Game last Friday night,” Watas’ statement read.
“He was monitored and settled down well from the concussion, but for the next few days he was subsequently investigated and showed a small, undecomposed fracture in his jaw.
“In consultation with the experts, we determined that a small operation to strengthen the area was the best way to do this. This will be reviewed in four weeks and then we will return to play based on that review.”
Waratah is currently in the Super Rugby ladder with a four-point drift of the 8th and 6th place hurricanes, which means NSW will have to win all three ending games to reach the playoffs.
Considering they will travel to Perth and then fight the Force and Blues respectively to Auckland after performing the Crusades at home on Friday, the chances of them reaching the final are long.
“This is a shame for us, especially for Joseph. We hope he will be the best in his recovery and return to full health,” Watas coach Dan McKellar said.
“We will do everything we can to promote his recovery in consultations with Rugby Australia and to make him the best possible form for Wallaby’s availability.”
Undivided jaw fractures usually take 4-6 weeks to heal, but as with suaalii, recovery can be longer if surgery is required.
This will be Suarii’s second stint on the bystanders this season after missing three games earlier this year due to a foot injury. However, he had been in an impressive form since his return, but he starred in fullback as his rugby retrained continued under McKellar’s careful eyes.
He has time to recover before the Wallabies play Fiji in July. 6, the fact that he is likely not racing the boots by now two weeks before his first Test with the Lions in Brisbane, will not welcome Joe Schmidt’s news.
The Wallabies coach only said on Monday that he didn’t care if Suari would play midfield or fullback, as he did last spring tour, but that it was simply important to keep getting his time in the saddle.
“Yeah, I hope he continues playing. I think he’s already missed a few games this season,” Schmidt told reporters. “He didn’t have that many games anyway, so I think it’s important for Joseph to keep him playing when he’s fit and can play… I think one of the beauty of playing 15 is watching the entire game in front of you.
“But they don’t use him like the normal 15. He gets to the forefront in some set plays and sometimes he’s on the forefront. The 15S doesn’t remove the flat ball from the normal lineout.
If Suari returns to Fiji, another option for Schmidt is to send him to Adelaide along with his invited teams from Australia and New Zealand. However, given that the game is only a week away from the first Test in Brisbane, it’s more likely that the Wallabies will keep him in camp.
In the meantime, Waratah is facing a positional re-shuffle due to a mandatory clash with the Crusades on Friday. Andrew Keraway will likely move to the 15th place jersey, but Waratah will check 23 later on Wednesday.