Joseph Suaalii has shrugged off a knock to be available for Australia's Test against Ireland on Saturday, coach Joe Schmidt confirmed.
Australia are looking to bounce back from Sunday's 27-13 defeat to Scotland in the concluding autumn Test at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Suaalii was withdrawn in the early stages of the contest against Scotland in Edinburgh amid fears that he had suffered a broken wrist.
"Joe's fine, he got one of those stingers where he had a bit of a dead arm," Schmidt said, providing an update on the 21-year-old Australia centre.
"We felt it was better to get it properly assessed, and we couldn't hold the game up to do that, so we took him out of the game against Scotland."
Against England earlier this month, rugby league convert Suaalii became only the third player after Matt Giteau and Tatafu Polota-Nau to debut for the Wallabies before playing in Super Rugby.
Schmidt, who coached Ireland from 2013 to 2019, has made five changes to his side from the defeat to the Scots.
James Slipper and Taniela Tupou have been recalled to the squad, while Jeremy Williams comes back from illness alongside Nick Frost.
Fraser McReight is also drafted into the back row while fly-half Tane Edmed is set for a first cap after finding a place among the replacements.
Meanwhile, Ireland have retained Sam Prendergast at fly-half for the autumn finale ahead of Jack Crowley.
Head coach Andy Farrell has also made five changes to an Ireland side that go into the Test on the back of a 52-17 win against Fiji.
Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, Hugo Keenan, Ronan Kelleher and James Ryan all return to Farrell's side as they look to finish on a high.
Uncapped Webster called up for Australia's second India Test
Australia have called up all-rounder Beau Webster for their second Test against India in Adelaide.
The 30-year-old is currently uncapped and will cover for Mitchell Marsh who is a doubt following injury concerns after Australia were defeated by 295 runs in their first Test in Perth.
Webster won Player of the Year in last season’s Sheffield Shield as he scored 938 runs, averaging 58.62 for Tasmania.
He also showed his capabilities as an all-rounder for Australia A against India in two matches preceding this Test series. He hit 145 runs across the two matches and racked up a six-wicket haul in the second match.
Tasmania captain Jordan Silk was complimentary of his team-mates' abilities.
"He's a special player at the moment. Any time we're in trouble, I feel like I can throw him the ball and he just seems to be able to create something. Any time we're in similar trouble with the bat then he's able to dig us out of it,” he said.
"He's basically playing as our third seamer and top-six batter, which is a pretty good luxury to have in our side.
"He'd probably say it was one of the best career moves of all time to give up his dirty offies and go to seam bowling because it's now looking like it could open many more doors for him."
He demonstrated such quality this week, scoring 61 and 49 for Tasmania and taking five wickets with the ball against New South Wales.
Australia squad for second Test v India:
Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Beau Webster.
T&T's Nicholas Paul sets sights on top spot after positive start in UCI Track Champions League
Trinidad and Tobago’s cycling star Nicholas Paul is looking to capitalize on his promising start to the 2024 UCI Track Champions League as he heads into the second and third rounds in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, starting Friday.
Paul showcased his sprinting prowess in the opening round held in Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines, France, finishing third in the men’s sprint and fifth in the keirin.
Competing against the world’s best, including Australian champion Matthew Richardson and Dutch world record holder Harrie Lavreysen, Paul has positioned himself third in the overall standings after round one—a foundation he’s eager to build on.
“It’s a League with five rounds. Finishing third in the overall standings after the first round is definitely a great start where I can build from. I am very comfortable going into the second and third rounds. My goal is to keep putting out better performances every round, one round at a time,” Paul told SportsMax.TV.
The 26-year-old’s third-place finish in the sprint event came against fierce competition as Richardson took top honours, while Lavreysen, the reigning Olympic champion and flying 200m world record holder had to settle for second.
Paul’s tactical sharpness and raw speed ensured he stayed in the mix, ahead of the likes of Colombia’s Cristian Ortega and Richardson’s compatriot Leigh Hoffman.
In the keirin, Paul faced another tough field, securing fifth place behind Richardson, Lavreysen, Colombia’s Kevin Quintero, and Ortega.
That race demonstrated the unpredictable nature of keirin cycling, but Paul remains determined to refine his tactics as the League progresses. In fact, beyond the individual prestige that improved performances bring in his career, the soft-spoken cyclist views it as an opportunity to showcase the quality and talent that Trinidad and Tobago is known for on the world stage.
“Racing doesn’t always go as planned. However, looking forward, there are a few areas I will pay more attention to tactically as I go through each round because my overall ambition is always to put my best foot forward, striving to get in the top spot for my country,” he noted.
Paul now turns his attention to the velodrome in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, where rounds two and three will be held on consecutive days. The League format remains consistent, with sprinters like Paul competing in the sprint and keirin events, accumulating points across all five rounds.
The UCI Track Champions League features 72 elite riders—18 in each category (men’s and women’s sprint and endurance)—vying for points to determine the champions. With one round completed in France, rounds two and three will unfold in Apeldoorn, while London is set to host rounds four and five, ensuring high-stakes racing at every stage.
For Paul, who has won numerous medals at the World Championships, Pan American Championships, Pan American Games and Commonwealth Games, this season represents a chance to further cement his status as one of the sport’s brightest stars.
“I am pleased with all I have been able to accomplish so far, but there are always more targets to aim at and more goals to achieve. So it’s all a work in progress, my plan is to build on this performance and to do so, I intend to keep putting in those hard hours to keep getting stronger and faster,” the two-time Olympian stated.
Marler announces retirement from professional rugby
Joe Marler has announced his retirement from professional rugby, revealing he will "finally jump off the rollercoaster" following Harlequins' clash with Bristol Bears on Friday.
The former England prop will bring the curtain down on his decorated career at the age of 34.
Marler has spent his entire club career with Harlequins, winning two Premiership titles, the European Challenge Cup and making over 200 appearances.
He also earned 95 caps for England, who he represented at three World Cups - helping them reach the 2019 final and 2023 semi-finals - while also winning three Six Nations Championships.
"The time has come to finally jump off the rollercoaster and walk away from this beautifully brutal game," he said in a statement. "On Friday night, I'll play my last-ever match for Quins. After all these happy years, it's over.
"I feel lucky to have pulled on the jersey worn by so many idols of mine, and so many better players.
"That's an incredible thing to me. I got to stand alongside so many great players and people that have made this club so special."
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