Skip to content

Isaac Henry injury: no call-up, so who partners Len Ikitau?

Isaac Henry injury: the Wallabies centre is out of the November Tests and nobody is called in. Ikitau and Suaalii shape as the pair for Murrayfield.

Len Ikitau of the Wallabies drives for the line against the Springboks
Photo: Getty Images

Isaac Henry is out of the Wallabies’ remaining November Tests. Nobody is coming in to replace him. The centre who started four of the last six leaves Les Kiss a sixth midfield change in seven Tests, and three options.

Isaac Henry, the Wallabies centre, strained a hamstring against England in London last weekend and will miss the rest of Australia’s November Nations Championship Tests, according to a team statement published by Rugby Australia on 9 November 2026. The squad will not be topped up.

After the Isaac Henry injury, why no centre is flying in

Henry went off in the 58th minute against England, and Filipo Daugunu took his place. The team says it is backing the players already in camp.

Hunter Paisami is not one of them. He has withdrawn for personal reasons, Rugby Australia reports, which makes Kurtley Beale the other frontline centre cover.

The pairing that never lasts

Australia last started the same two centres in consecutive Tests in August, when Paisami and Henry played Japan and then Argentina. Every Test since has brought a change.

Test (2026)Starting centres
Argentina, first TestPaisami and Henry
Argentina, second TestIkitau and Suaalii
Springboks, PerthPaisami and Ikitau
All Blacks, Eden ParkIkitau and Henry
All Blacks, SydneyHenry and Suaalii
England, LondonIkitau and Henry

Source: Rugby Australia’s list of centre partnerships since the Japan series.

Five different combinations started those six Tests. Henry and Ikitau each started four, and they are the only pair to start together twice in that run.

Some of the churn was forced. Paisami’s four-week ban for a high tackle in Perth kept him out of both Bledisloe Tests, which is how Henry got the 13 shirt at Eden Park. Whoever starts at Murrayfield, it will be the sixth change in seven Tests.

Ikitau and Suaalii, or a gamble on Beale

Rugby Australia expects Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to start, the pair who began the second Test against Argentina. Suaalii has spent part of the season on the wing, though, Eden Park included, so Kiss could leave him there and look elsewhere.

Daugunu is the nearest alternative. He has started twice at inside centre for the Reds in 2026 and played outside centre in 2024.

Beale is the bolder call. His last Test was against Wales in 2021, at fullback.

What the decision says about Australia’s depth

Standing pat shows faith in Daugunu and Beale. It also shows how few fit Test centres Australia have left, with Paisami gone and Henry injured.

Kiss has already promised to look at every part of selection after the England defeat. Rugby Australia names Carter Gordon and Tom Hooper as near a return after both came close to playing in London, while Brandon Paenga-Amosa missed that Test injured.

What happens next

Australia meet Scotland at Murrayfield this weekend, trying to end a three-match losing run. The team sheet will show whether Kiss trusts a pairing he has used before or tries a seventh.

With Henry gone, would you move Suaalii in from the wing to partner Ikitau, or start Daugunu at centre and keep Suaalii wide?

Read next

Written by

Former Georgian U20 rugby player turned rugby journalist — founder of WeTalkRugby and the GG Rugby YouTube channel.

Official Rugby World Cup 2027 draw graphic showing all six pools

Our favourite stories

Latest

The daily rugby email

Rugby news on your teams, in one email every morning.

I want the free WeTalkRugby daily email and I understand I can unsubscribe at any time. See our Privacy Policy.

Comments

No one has weighed in yet.

Be the first - what did you make of it?