Hunter Paisami banned for four weeks

Australia centre Hunter Paisami will miss both Bledisloe Cup Tests against New Zealand after receiving a four-week suspension following his yellow card against South Africa in Perth.

Hunter Paisami suspended after Springboks tackle

Paisami was cited following Australia’s 42-38 victory over the Springboks after making high contact with replacement fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu late in the match.

The incident occurred in the 76th minute as Australia defended their lead against the back-to-back world champions.

A disciplinary hearing subsequently resulted in Paisami being suspended from all rugby for four weeks, ruling the Queensland Reds centre out of the upcoming Bledisloe Cup series.

Wallabies lose centre for Bledisloe Cup

Australia face the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland on October 10 before hosting the second Bledisloe Test at Accor Stadium in Sydney on October 17.

Paisami’s suspension removes one of Australia’s regular midfield options ahead of the two-match series.

Wallabies coach Les Kiss expressed disappointment with the length of the sanction, saying he believed it could have been shorter, but acknowledged Australia would have to adapt without the 28-year-old.

“I’ll be careful what I say because I might be fined,” Kiss said.

“But four weeks, I thought it could have been a little bit less than that, for sure.”

Kiss added that Australia would now deal with the situation and consider how Paisami’s suspension applies across the upcoming Bledisloe Cup matches and subsequent Tests.