In the 26th minute, a glimpse of the talent Wallabies fans were hoping to see appeared. A step and skip around Ollie Sleightholme, a deft drop over the top for Tom Wright to put the finishing touch on Australia’s first try; Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii had arrived.
Australian rugby union fans have suffered for years as the country’s best athletes have been lured to rugby league or the AFL, tempted by the riches and rougher health of competing codes. But now the union had confiscated from them a princely talent of their own. The $5 million man is Suaalii, a handsome sum for a player Rugby Australia hopes will shine in next summer’s British and Irish Lions series and at a home World Cup in 2027. His signing was an important statement, and looking for a sprinkling of stardust, Joe Schmidt wasted no time in placing Suaalii in the starting team.
There are far more hospitable environments in which to make your rugby union debut than an England-Australia clash, Suaalii said. It speaks to Schmidt’s confidence in his new signing – and his desire to see him succeed in breathing new life into a struggling team.
His athletic talent was all too evident: Tommy Freeman darted in from behind after the England wing had cantered away, a hoisted Maro Itoje outplayed a kick-off with aerial prowess honed on the pitch basketball and in the NRL fully visible. And then came Wright’s devastating and tricky assist – evidence of extremely high potential.
Not everything went well for Suaalii, whose eagerness to offload caught his teammates as much as England off guard. But as the hosts played into his and Australia’s hands in a fast and loose contest, the center grew in influence, go-go gadget arms and a strong 6ft 5in frame causing plenty of chaos.
“He’s a bit of an airhead, but at the same time, it was also a good learning experience for Joseph,” Schmidt said of Suaalii.
“He’s incredibly diligent in his preparation and, I think, that diligence pays off in the way he plays. He’s probably still finding his feet in the game. There are very different subtleties. But with that hard work ethic and professionalism and athleticism that he has, I thought it was a really confidence-boosting start.
He proved the spark Australia needed to breathe new life into them and come back strong after England’s rapid exit. The visiting team have been in need of direction since Eddie Jones, as usual, burned the place down either side of a disastrous World Cup last year. A difficult Rugby Championship campaign has left many fearing the Lions will be untested on tour next summer, something of an overreaction but concerns about the Wallabies’ competitiveness are understandable.
It was thought that the scheming Schmidt might try to imprint some structure on his team, but it is clear that he has given them the license to play. With so many of his team members experienced in the fast waters of the league, it makes sense to let them swim free.
Wright – who spent a season with the Manly Sea Eagles before swapping codes – repeatedly came out of England’s whirlwinds in a display full of counter-attacking verve, while big bad Rob Valetini hit everyone in the carry as Australia took control. Even the big men were having fun, with a bouncing Jeremy Williams somehow keeping his toe out of contact just long enough to crash into the corner.
Only Marcus Smith was really able to break through the rapids and keep England in touch, with injuries to Tom Curry and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso failing to help as they searched for composure and control. It was the kind of game Harlequins fans enjoy across Chertsey Road, and soon another Quin appeared at the big Stoop. It was exactly the sort of affair Alex Dombrandt likes, and his push and pass for Ollie Sleightholme’s second try was beautifully measured.
But the Wallabies were right in the fight, where one would want to face an England team seemingly incapable of sealing the deal. Looking for a score to kill the game just inside half, disaster struck for George Ford and Ollie Lawrence, a pass stuck in the sliding gates and Andrew Kellaway had sharp hands and feet to pick up and run away.
England had a reply, with Itoje striking from close range, but the Wallabies had the last laugh. And what a great statement, Max Jorgensen racing up the left touchline and leaping to glory with joy, a close victory assured to put more pressure on a home team who have seemingly forgotten how to win.
Australia will continue their tour of the British Isles with increased confidence – there is work to be done defensively and not all opposition will play so naively into their hands, but there is clearly something to build on in the dynamism of their offensive game. It was a significant result, only their second victory against England since the 2015 World Cup, and a much-needed tonic in a Lions year. And in Suaalii, which lasted a full 80 minutes, they seem to have added a potential star.