Rugby league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will make his Australian debut without having yet played a rugby union match after being named in the Wallabies squad to face England at Twickenham on Saturday, coach Joe Schmidt stating “if not now, when?”.
Suaalii, 21, was selected at outside center for the opening match of Australia’s Grand Slam tour, with the Wallabies facing England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland on successive weekends.
An outstanding schoolboy rugby player, Suaalii began his professional rugby league career with the Sydney Roosters.
But he has now switched codes, following former rugby league stars such as Israel Folau and Sonny Bill Williams, in signing a multi-million dollar deal with Rugby Australia.
Suaalii is the only change to the starting XV since Australia’s last match, a 33-13 defeat to New Zealand in Wellington in September.
“With Hunter Paisami injured and Samu Kerevi arriving late, it was the best combination for us and a very good opportunity,” Australia coach Schmidt told reporters at the team hotel in London after naming his squad THURSDAY.
“Everything is a risk. What I would trust around Joseph is his ability to prepare. He is a very professional young man. He has a lot of experience.”
– ‘Reference’ –
Australia have no Tests scheduled between the end of this tour and the start of their series against the British and Irish Lions in July next year, leaving them with few opportunities to make Suaali’s debut before facing the combined team.
“For us, there are four test matches left this year before we embark on a massive Lions tour next year,” Schmidt said.
“So if not now, when? It’s unlikely it will go perfectly, but it will be a benchmark he (Suaalii) can build on.”
Former Ireland manager Schmidt, when asked why Suaalii was ready for international rugby, said: “He’s a very humble young man, but he’s very frank about his preparation, and that gives us confidence.”
The Wallabies have lost five of their six matches in this year’s Southern Hemisphere Rugby Championship under Schmidt, who took charge after Eddie Jones oversaw a dismal 2023 World Cup campaign during which Australia crashed out in the group stage.
“I consider them a good group of hard-working young men,” Schmidt said of his Australian team beaten 31-28 by New Zealand in Sydney in September.
The New Zealander added: “I know the All Blacks were quite nervous that day when we came close. We don’t want to make people nervous. We want to make them unhappy because we got the result. But we will be nervous the way there.
England come into Saturday’s match on the back of a agonizing 24-22 defeat to New Zealand at Twickenham last weekend – their third narrow defeat to the All Blacks this year.
It was another game where England, 22-14, squandered a lead in the final quarter, but Schmidt dismissed suggestions Australia could exploit a vulnerability on Saturday.
“Professional rugby players are reasonably accustomed to playing whatever is in front of them,” he said.
“I don’t think they’re necessarily distracted by what happened in previous games.”
England manager Steve Borthwick named an unchanged squad on Tuesday.
Australia (15-1)
Tom Wright; Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch; Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson (captain), Fraser McReight, Rob Valentini; Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost; Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Max Jorgensen
Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)
jdg/ea