Len Ikitau on ‘tough’ Wallabies challenge after latest midfield blow

Wallabies centre Len Ikitau has highlighted the importance of “connection” and alluded to some major fixes needed in the backline, as the Aussies look to bounce back from a heavy defeat to England without breakout star Isaac Henry.

The 2025 John Eales Medallist (Wallabies’ players’ player) formed a long-time centre pairing with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, but coach Les Kiss has recently gone in another direction by shifting ‘Su’ out wide to the wing.

Suaalii joined Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright in the back three in the Wallabies’ side to face the Springboks in Perth. Hunter Paisami initially joined Ikitau in the midfield, before Henry got that chance against the All Blacks and England.

But as the Wallabies confirmed this week, Henry has sustained a season-ending hamstring injury in the 45-22 defeat to England at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, which will see the international rookie miss the rest of the Nations Championship.

Paisami is unavailable, seeing utility Filipo Daugunu and 95-Test cap Kurtley Beale emerge as potential options to start against Scotland this weekend. Kiss may also move Suaalii back to the midfield, but any selections won’t be confirmed until later this week.

“It is pretty tough. Being able to stick with the same centre pairing and being able to play consistently with the same people has been tough for us lately,” Ikitau told reporters.

“I feel like we’ve got a lot of good centres. Unfortunate for [Henry] who’s not playing for the rest of the tour. But we’ve got [Daugunu] who was outstanding when he came on, brought a lot of energy.

“And Joseph can come back to the centres. We’ve got a good relationship there in the centres so if he needs to come back in then we’ll just go with that.”

Henry played about 53 minutes alongside Ikitau against England, as the entire Wallabies until tired to wrestle their way back into the fight. England led 19-3 deep in the first half, before a Max Jorgensen intercept try breathed new life into the Wallabies.

The Wallabies had only had one 22 entry before that runaway effort, and the men in gold failed to make the most of that opportunity. But still, they went into the break only down by nine, with it all to play for in the second term.

But England quickly took control, with backrower Henry Pollock scoring two tries as a replacement on the wing. Daugunu and Jeremey Williams hit back for the Wallabies, but as captain Harry Wilson said post-game, it was “too little, too late.”

“Pretty disappointing result last week,” Ikitau reflected.

“In terms of training, we have a lot of work-ons from that game and we’ve tried to nail it today, and we have another chance on Friday to go at it again. As disappointed as we are, just being able to get back on the horse and go again against Scotland this week.”