Paisami to appeal ban as Wallabies eye end to All Blacks’ 53-game Eden Park winning streak

Wallabies coach Les Kiss could be forced to field an untested centre pairing in October’s Bledisloe Cup series after Hunter Paisami received a four-match suspension for his high tackle against South Africa last Sunday.

The Reds centre will appeal the decision at a SANZAAR Disciplinary Committee hearing on Wednesday night, with the plan to announce the result on Thursday. If Paisami’s appeal is unsuccessful, Jock Campbell will join the squad in his place.

The Wallabies will take on New Zealand on October 10 at Eden Park, hoping to end the All Blacks’ 53-game unbeaten run at the stadium. World Rugby’s regulations list sanctions of two matches for low-end dangerous tackles, six for mid-range offences and 10 or more for high-end offences.

If the appeal is unsuccessful, Paisami could serve some of his ban during October’s two-match Australia A tour.

The powerful centre received a yellow card in the 75th minute in Perth on Sunday, becoming the fourth and final Wallaby sent to the sin bin by referee Andrea Piardi in the four-point win over South Africa.

Back-rower Toby Macpherson has been called into his first Wallabies squad after showing strong form in Super Rugby AUS for the ACT Brumbies. The 22-year-old played 13 Super Rugby games for the Brumbies last season after starting his professional career with a stint at Toyota Verblitz in Japan.

Len Ikitau has been named in the squad to face New Zealand despite hurting his ankle in Sunday’s Test. This masthead revealed there is cautious optimism the star centre could play some role in the Bledisloe series after a scan on Monday eliminated fears of serious damage.

If Ikitau is not fit for the Eden Park Test, a potential centre partnership would be Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Isaac Henry, although the two players have never started a Test together.

Henry made his debut for the Wallabies against Japan in Osaka in August and has played for the Reds at both inside and outside centre.

Utility back Jordan Petaia has stayed in Australia to provide backline cover before joining his new club Urayasu D-Rocks in Japan. Petaia can play wing, centre and fullback.

Two of the other Wallabies’ overseas-based contingent, Tom Hooper and Taniela Tupou, are unavailable as the Bledisloe Cup falls outside World Rugby’s regulation nine window, which requires clubs to release players for Test rugby. Massimo de Lutiis returns to the squad in Tupou’s place.

Second-rower Josh Canham is named in the squad after missing the South Africa Test due to a minor hamstring strain and is joined by Miles Amatosero, who was recalled to the squad after receiving a red card in his last Test for the Wallabies against Japan in Townsville. Nick Frost, a star of last year’s Lions series, has been named as injury cover.

The Wallabies have opted to continue with the playmaking trio of Ben Donaldson, Declan Meredith and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips. Utility back Filipo Daugunu has been recalled to the squad after recovering from a minor knee injury.

Meanwhile, former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie is managing a host of injuries in his squad. Hooker Codie Taylor will captain New Zealand against the Wallabies in the absence of Ardie Savea, who hurt his shoulder in the Test series against South Africa.

Ruben Love, Patrick Tuipulotu, Luke Jacobson, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke (shoulder) and Ollie Norris are also unavailable for New Zealand due to injury. Former captain Scott Barrett has returned to the squad with back-rower Shannon Frizell. Frizzell last played for the All Blacks in the 2023 World Cup final loss to South Africa.

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