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Joe Schmidt tempers Joseph Suaalii hype after debut for the ages

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii of Australia reacts following victory during the Autumn Nations Series 2025 match between England and Australia at Allianz Stadium on November 09, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Australia head coach Joe Schmidt has described Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s player of the match debut against England as “confidence-boosting”, but was reluctant to shower the 21-year-old in praise too soon, insisting he is still “finding his feet”.

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In what was his first game of professional rugby union after his much-vaunted switch from rugby league just over a month ago, the former Sydney Roosters wing produced a match-leading four offloads at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, one of which a try assist, as the Wallabies triumphed over England 37-42.

While it was a display that will be much-discussed over the coming days and weeks, Schmidt was keen to deflect attention from the rising star after the match, instead heaping praise on fellow centre Len Ikitau, describing the No 12 as “outstanding”.

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Though sparing in his commendation, Schmidt did still describe the outside centre as an “aerial freak” as the Wallabies made great use of his 1.96m frame with their kicks.

It was a performance that the Kiwi nevertheless believes answers some of the “doubts” that had arisen over the former NRL star’s inclusion.

Match Summary

2
Penalty Goals
3
5
Tries
5
3
Conversions
4
0
Drop Goals
0
122
Carries
161
6
Line Breaks
13
20
Turnovers Lost
13
3
Turnovers Won
8

“I thought he was strong,” Schmidt said when reflecting on the young centre’s performance. “I thought he was really well supported by Lenny Ikitau, Lenny was outstanding. Even at the end of the game, he took the corner, drew the defender, released Max Jorgensen. I thought those two dove-tailed pretty well through that midfield.

“Joseph obviously got a few kick-offs back for us, he’s a bit of an aerial freak. But at the same time, it was a good learning experience for Joseph as well.

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“I know there were some doubts expressed about him being selected and the risk. I think people will now see the opportunity of involving a young man like that, particularly the way he prepared during the week. I thought he was really professional.”

Schmidt explained how Suaalii’s stint in rugby league – after coming through the rugby union pathway in Australia – has made him “incredibly diligent”, which was seen in the build-up to the match in London.

But the former Ireland boss emphasised that his latest debutant still has to learn the “subtleties” of the new code, although his first showing will surely fill his coach and any Wallabies fandom with plenty of confidence.

“He played in school and came through the rugby union pathway, so he played for Australia U18 schoolboys,” Schmidt added.

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“So, he certainly has a rugby union pedigree albeit having played a few years of professional rugby league. Which has made him a really professional young man. At 21 years old, he is incredibly diligent around his preparation and that diligence pays off in the way that he performs.

“He’s still probably finding his feet in the game, there are subtleties that are very different, but with that diligent work ethic, that professionalism and the athleticism that he possesses, I thought it was a really confidence-boosting debut.”

Australia take on Wales next week, before Scotland and Ireland, with Suaalii likely to play a major role in their November tour.

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Comments

4 Comments
U
Utiku Old Boy 11 days ago

Good comments - need to keep some of the star pressure off Suaalii’s shoulders as he gets under way. Schmidt must be quietly delighted though.

B
BM 11 days ago

England collect another loss at their ALLIANZ STADIUM FORTRESS and still believe they're only a whisker away from an AUTUMN victory to claim their fortress! Well done Australia from AB's and fans hoping for WALLABIES further success in the NORTH soon! You have shown your SH class once more cos we know you never give up!

O
OJohn 11 days ago

Especially as the Wallabies are covering up Schmidt's attempts to cripple them with rubbish coaching and selections.

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JW 3 hours ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Ok, managed to read the full article..

... New Zealand’s has only 14 and the professional season is all over within four months. In France, club governance is the responsibility of an independent organisation [the Ligue Nationale de Rugby or LNR] which is entirely separate from the host union [the Fédération Française de Rugby or FFR]. Down south New Zealand Rugby runs the provincial and the national game.

That is the National Provincial Championship, a competition of 14 representative union based teams run through the SH international window and only semi professional (paid only during it's running). It is run by NZR and goes for two and a half months.


Super Rugby is a competition involving 12 fully professional teams, of which 5 are of New Zealand eligibility, and another joint administered team of Pacific Island eligibility, with NZR involvement. It was a 18 week competition this year, so involved (randomly chosen I believe) extra return fixtures (2 or 3 home and away derbys), and is run by Super Rugby Pacific's own independent Board (or organisation). The teams may or may not be independently run and owned (note, this does not necessarily mean what you think of as 'privately owned').


LNR was setup by FFR and the French Government to administer the professional game in France. In New Zealand, the Players Association and Super Rugby franchises agreed last month to not setup their own governance structure for professional rugby and re-aligned themselves with New Zealand Rugby. They had been proposing to do something like the English model, I'm not sure how closely that would have been aligned to the French system but it did not sound like it would have French union executive representation on it like the LNR does.

In the shaky isles the professional pyramid tapers to a point with the almighty All Blacks. In France the feeling for country is no more important than the sense of fierce local identity spawned at myriad clubs concentrated in the southwest. Progress is achieved by a nonchalant shrug and the wide sweep of nuanced negotiation, rather than driven from the top by a single intense focus.

Yes, it is pretty much a 'representative' selection system at every level, but these union's are having to fight for their existence against the regime that is NZR, and are currently going through their own battle, just as France has recently as I understand it. A single focus, ala the French game, might not be the best outcome for rugby as a whole.


For pure theatre, it is a wonderful article so far. I prefer 'Ntamack New Zealand 2022' though.

The young Crusader still struggles to solve the puzzle posed by the shorter, more compact tight-heads at this level but he had no problem at all with Colombe.

It was interesting to listen to Manny during an interview on Maul or Nothing, he citied that after a bit of banter with the All Black's he no longer wanted one of their jersey's after the game. One of those talks was an eye to eye chat with Tamaiti Williams, there appear to be nothing between the lock and prop, just a lot of give and take. I thought TW angled in and caused Taylor to pop a few times, and that NZ were lucky to be rewarded.

f you have a forward of 6ft 8ins and 145kg, and he is not at all disturbed by a dysfunctional set-piece, you are in business.

He talked about the clarity of the leadership that helped alleviate any need for anxiety at the predicaments unfolding before him. The same cannot be said for New Zealand when they had 5 minutes left to retrieve a match winning penalty, I don't believe. Did the team in black have much of a plan at any point in the game? I don't really call an autonomous 10 vehicle they had as innovative. I think Razor needs to go back to the dealer and get a new game driver on that one.

Vaa’i is no match for his power on the ground. Even in reverse, Meafou is like a tractor motoring backwards in low gear, trampling all in its path.

Vaa'i actually stops him in his tracks. He gets what could have been a dubious 'tackle' on him?

A high-level offence will often try to identify and exploit big forwards who can be slower to reload, and therefore vulnerable to two quick plays run at them consecutively.

Yes he was just standing on his haunches wasn't he? He mentioned that in the interview, saying that not only did you just get up and back into the line to find the opposition was already set and running at you they also hit harder than anything he'd experienced in the Top 14. He was referring to New Zealands ultra-physical, burst-based Super style of course, which he was more than a bit surprised about. I don't blame him for being caught out.


He still sent the obstruction back to the repair yard though!

What wouldn’t the New Zealand rugby public give to see the likes of Mauvaka and Meafou up front..

Common now Nick, don't go there! Meafou showed his Toulouse shirt and promptly got his citizenship, New Zealand can't have him, surely?!?


As I have said before with these subjects, really enjoy your enthusiasm for their contribution on the field and I'd love to see more of their shapes running out for Vern Cotter and the like styled teams.

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