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All Black Richie Mo'unga's verdict on Wallabies star recruit Joseph Sua'ali'i
By Ben Smith
After spending time this week in camp with the New South Wales Blues ahead of the Origin decider at Suncorp, Richie Mo’unga was able to get up close with the Wallabies latest recruit Joseph Sua’ali’i.
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The Waratahs-bound star was able to cross paths with the star All Black first five despite sitting on the sidelines after being banned for high shot on Reece Walsh in Origin I.
Sua’ali’i has remained with the Blues Origin team during the series in his last season in rugby league before his highly awaited switch after the Roosters season ends.
The rugby world could first see the Roosters star on the end of year tour this year with the Wallabies, while the British & Irish Lions are sure to see the towering 6’5 outside back when they tour in 12 months time.
Mo’unga has offered his verdict on what they should expect from the special athlete, claiming that he will “beat any defender one-on-one” in the 15-man code.
“There’s no doubt he’s an extremely gifted player,” Mo’unga told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“He will beat any defender when it is one-on-one. He has that powerful running game, but also a deft touch in terms of his skill set and vision. I’m looking forward to seeing use that.
“There will be other parts of the game he’ll need to work on. He wouldn’t have hit a ruck in years, or kicked the ball that much, which you need to do in that centre and wing role.
“But he’s young, exciting, he has an appetite to learn – he’s some athlete.
“The sky is the limit for him in terms of union.”
That’s what Rugby Australia wants to hear after agreeing to a $5 million three-year contract with the former schoolboy union star.
The two may cross paths again in a Bledisloe series with Mo’unga expressing his desire to return to the All Blacks once his Toshiba deal expires.
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The earliest that Mo’unga might be back playing in New Zealand is 2027, the final year of Sua’ali’i’s contract and the Rugby World Cup year.
Sua’ali’i will no doubt be a different player by the time entering his third year of professional union.
Richie will be back at the end of next season. NZRFU will buy out his contract. He is wasted playing in the Japanese league.
Someone please give Mounga something to do. Looks like this bloke is going to be better than Lomu with “He will beat anyone in the 15s game one on one” comment. Just pass it to Suaalii.
I hope he goes well for the Wallabies.
The comms said in the match last night someone would need to play with a bit of freedom if there was going to be a winner to this game. Jarome Luai had been playing with that required freedom all game, unusual a type a player that he is, and immediately respond to that call by doing his impression of a Mo’unga goosie infront of the Reds line, and he was away. He also seemed to have developed a great dropie (don’t watch a lot of league) that looked like it cam straight off a 2000’s rugby field. And to great effect.
Jarome would be a great pickup for rugby I feel, and possibly might look more at home on a rugby field too. Even if he looked as awkward though the guy has got amazing skills.