Former Wales lock Jake Ball announces retirement

Long term he must be a FB. Yes SBW stuck at 12 for his offload ability but he didn't have any of JAS' prowess in the air. If a guy like is going to win you 5 or 6 balls back per game, he needs to be in the back three to do it.

Agreed I'd like to see what Skelton and Kerevi can do this weekend v Wales. Aussie got lucky in the final minute to beat England but they are still shipping 35 points per game just they did in the RC, so more improvement needs to be made.

I asked John in his earlier article if JAS can play 10, with no seriousness mind you, but still a hint of interest.

No chance JW. Why waste his aerial ability at 10?

He reads the play, and can see what's likely to happen before it does. Quite a few of the guys don't do that.

Agree too, that better value for money would be 5 other guys + keep Nawaqanitawase, Petaia and Carter Gordon.

However, we have him now, so as I said below let's use him.

Personally, I'd put him on Peitch's wing this weekend to get the feel of it, and put Kerevi into the centres. That way, Joe will have some options, because I'm sure that next year there will be only 3 guys in contention for the 2 centre slots, and Suualli will be either one of them or one of the back 3

Smith was very, very good, don't get me wrong - but was he the best player on the field? I'm not sure about that..

While on his point though it might have been to AD I said in another thread that Aussie Rugby could do with an influx of the same sort of rugby ready journeymen of the NRL to boost rugby's stocks. We didn't really know how at home Sua'ali'i would be of course then but there's dozens of league footballers they could have got, for the same total cost, to fit straight into rugby to give a real boost to the squads similar to how filling the teams out with Rebels players has.

I asked John in his earlier article if JAS can play 10, with no seriousness mind you, but still a hint of interest. I wouldn't be surprised that with this backround you've highlighted theres more of a kicking and playmaker game in the young man, making him a superb option at full back as well.

Not a bad debut.

Shouldn't be a surprise though.

As a follower of League and Union he is the highest ranking player bought yet.

Measured by contract valuation or agreed skill Suualli was a top 5 League (NRL) player whereas Folau was perhaps top 10, and Sailor, Rogers and Tjquiri maybe top 20. Inside backs are mostly the top 5.

He can do lots of things including read the game better than most 5/8s!

I still don't think they should have bought him, but he's here now, so let's use him.

He won't be around forever, as his manager has shopped him around every 3 or 4 years since he was 12.

I think he'll adapt really quickly to all of the nuances of Rugby whether he stays at centre or goes back 3.

I see the need for better centre pairing than we've had, and love it that this got Ikitau more involved.

We do need a tall strong, fast skilled guy in the back 3,...especially as Suualli's money and (love) means there is not enough for Naquawaqawassi and Petaia any more.

Suualli can't be in both places at the same time, but my view is that he will be much better at shifting around to needed spots during a game than Folau ever was

However, I had Tom Wright, Len Ikitau, Bobby V and Angus Bell ahead of Sua’ali’i who it must be said had a positive debut on attack but there are understandable chinks in his armour defensively.