Max Jorgensen’s hopes of playing in July’s British and Irish Lions series have been rocked, with the Wallabies star forced off early in his side’s huge 57-12 hiding to the Hurricanes across the ditch on Friday night.
The 20-year-old was pulled down from behind by Hurricanes back-rower Braydon Iose and immediately grimaced in the 11th minute. Seconds later, the prodigious talent banged his right hand on the Wellington turf and let out a roar of anger as he held his left ankle.
Jorgensen then limped off the field with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.
The setback not only has the potential to end his Super Rugby season, but leaves him in a race against the clock to take on the Lions in the series opener on July 19 in Brisbane.
Jorgensen had been in stunning form and was arguably Australia’s form outside back during the first half of this year’s Super Rugby season.
Max Jorgensen was forced off early during the Waratahs’ heavy loss to the Hurricanes at Sky Stadium on March 28, 2025. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Indeed, Mike Catt, the former World Cup winner turned respected coach, who recently left Ireland after more than four years with the international powerhouse, had marvelled at his ability.
“Not many like Jorgo, no,” said Catt on Tuesday, having been asked if he had seen many 20-year-olds like Jorgensen. “He’s exceptional.
“Just his skill and his pace. He’s strong. He’s phenomenal, he’s got a hell of a skill set.”
The early setback added to what was a frustrating and painful night for Dan McKellar’s Waratahs.
After upsetting the Brumbies last weekend, the Waratahs went across the Tasman for the first time this year hoping to build on their momentum and send a statement to the competition that they were officially back after a few years in the doldrums.
Instead, they copped a pounding from the Hurricanes as Cam Roigard, Ruben Love and Kini Naholo put on a show.
Naholo, the powerful winger, completed his hat-trick by stampeding over the top of Derby Lancaster, and Love converted from the sideline to complete the rout.
“I thought we started well but everything that could go wrong for us did go wrong for us,’ stand-in captain Joey Walton said.
“We didn’t adapt well enough. We didn’t win collisions and they rolled over the top of us.”
The Waratahs were in the fight for much of the first half, but a horror two minutes late in the piece saw the Hurricanes go bang, bang as Asafo Aumua’s try was followed by an end-to-end classic from the home side as Roigard ensured they took a 24-12 lead into the main break.
While the visitors scored early in the second half through rookie Archie Saunders, the Hurricanes scored the next five tries, including a penalty try from a rolling maul which led to centre Walton being shown a yellow card, to run away with the match.
“I think five minutes before half-time we felt like we were in it, but we dropped our heads,” Walton said.
