Having finally fulfilled a long-held desire to represent New Zealand, Ponga’s night was going sweetly – he scored two tries that included one trademark run from deep and elusive step that left Walsh clutching at air – but it ended on a bitter note.
For one thing, Australia swiped victory from the grasp of Stacey Jones’ team. For another, Ponga’s futre participation in the World Cup is now in serious doubt.
Speaking after the game, Jones admitted that the Newcastle Knights man would now have medical checks after playing on for a quarter of the contest with an injury sustained in a tackle with Cameron Munster.
“It’s a possible fracture of the arm but he’s going to go for scans and we’re not going to make a call on him right now where he’s at,” said Jones.
“He had a pretty good game.
“I think he played on for 20 minutes, he toughed it out. It’s a tough one. They scored a try and that’s when we were told what it possibly was and that he would have to come off.
“He couldn’t catch the ball or anything like that, he was in a lot of discomfort.”
Should Ponga be ruled out it would be a huge blow to New Zealand’s hopes of winning a second World Cup, 18 years on from their first.