mens
international
The Wallabies will be without one of their most influential players for the second Bledisloe Cup Test against All black people in Sydney and Len Ikitau was sent off for a headbutt in Auckland.
Ikitau left the field in the 30th minute, and did not return as his side slumped to a 50-19 defeat at the hands of Dave Rennie’s All Blacks at their fortress.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Isaac Henry finished the defeat at Eden Park as a midfield combination, and could be asked to step up in Sydney, with a limited number of experienced midfielders available.
Jordan Petaia, who has yet to suit up for the Wallabies since being named in the Bledisloe Cup squad, will also miss the second Test after picking up an ankle injury in training.
Les Kiss turned to ACT Brumbies duo Corey Toole and Kadin Pritchard will replace Petaia and Ikitau, and will join the Wallabies in Sydney on Sunday.
The All Blacks were also forced into multiple changes for next weekend’s battle at Accor Stadium, calling up Du’Plessis Kirifi, George Bell, Jamie Hannah and Anton Lienert-Brown.
Both Anton Segner and Asafo Aumua were sent off through HIA protocols after clashing heads in a brutal second-half clash at Eden Park.
Ethan Blackadder, who was not in the matchday 23 for the All Blacks, headed down the tunnel in the warm-up with a calf injury.
The Wallabies will, however, have the services of Rob Valetini for the second Test in Sydney, despite what looked like a knock against All Blacks winger Leroy Carter.
Carter raced towards the Wallabies line, before Valetini stretched to make the final try, but the weight of the loose Brumbies forward fell on the All Black’s back.
Carter was helped off the field and will miss next weekend’s Bledisloe Cup clash.
