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LONG READ Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre
17 hours ago

TNT Sports coverage of the Autumn Nations Series often starts around one hour before the big games are due to kick off. The virtues of an extended build-up were amply illustrated before the start of the England-Australia match at Twickenham.

As the telly pundits gathered pitchside to chew the fat against a background of sparsely-populated seats, new wunderkind Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii casually strolled into shot in the background. He was wearing shorts and a Wallaby training top, and that was all. No socks, no shoes.

The young man’s toes flexed and dug into the lush green grass carpet. He raised his head slightly and looked up at the stands, as if drinking in the applause to come. It was as if Sua’ali’i was connecting to the international grid at rugby’s most ancient of power sources; tapping into the ley lines, summoning the old ones.

Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii had a wonderful introduction to international rugby union (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

It was a simple action but it showed the faith Suaalii has in rugby, and the faith Joe Schmidt has in him. As the debutant commented after the match: “I have come in, I am 21 and I just feel I’m being myself.

“It’s a funny story – back in 2003, Samoa and England played [here], and my old man took me down. I was only a couple of months old, and my dad loves rugby that much. Honestly, to play against England today at Twickenham, it’s just amazing.

“I just stuck to the process of just playing footy. I’ve been playing footy since I was four years old – and my teammates, they played their role and helped me big time, even throughout the game too.”

There is some personal history at the old cabbage patch and there is strong sentiment. This is not a newbie from league who is crossing the great divide with no emotional background or feeling for the game.

After the opening kick-off, Suaalii’s debut recalled Jordie Petaia’s first game at the 2019 World Cup in Japan, against an Eddie Jones-mentored England. Petaia was Australian rugby’s ‘next big thing’ five years ago when he made his first appearance in the green and gold as a callow 19-year-old. Both men are of similar height and share the same curly locks and wiry-strong physique.

Sua’ali’i played a major role in Australia’s victory, even winning the decisive restart duel with Maro Itoje in the air (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Five years later, Petaia looks to be on his way out of rugby in what ought to be his physical prime, weighing up a move to the NFL and due to attend the International Player Pathway development camp in Florida next January. Australia beware: every sensational entry into the spotlight has a wagging finger of reproof waiting just off-stage.

At the post-match press conference, Schmidt was rightly pleased his opening gambit had paid off in the wake of Australia’s last-gasp 42-37 victory.

“I thought [Joseph] was strong,” he said. “I thought he was really well supported by Lenny Ikitau. Lenny was outstanding.

“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 him as well.

“There were some doubts expressed about him being selected and the risk [involved]. I think people would 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.

“He certainly has a rugby pedigree, albeit having played a few years of professional rugby league, which has made him a really professional young man.

“He is incredibly diligent around his preparation. 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.”

Suaalii’s stats were nothing special: seven runs for 30 metres, the least of any Australian outside back. Four tackles missed out of eight attempted, with two offloads allowed, for another unwanted number one ranking. Only three cleanouts attempted and one turnover conceded.

His work-rate was low as Schmidt looked to limit his exposure to unfamiliar situations, but his impact on the scenarios where the head coach knows he has raw ability was very high indeed. There were four successful offloads, two break-assists with one going for a seven-pointer; four kick-offs either reclaimed, or with an error forced on the receipt by the strength of his challenge in the air.

There were two sides to the Suaalii story at Twickenham, and in the months leading up to the British and Irish Lions tour next July it is sure to provoke more, rather than less debate around what his best position on the field truly is.

Last Saturday in West London, the theory on defence was to start Suaalii outside Len Ikitau on first phase, then tuck him away on the short side as often as possible to minimise the movement and decision-making necessary. It got Australia into very hot water indeed early in the game.

 

 

After a clever kick through the middle by Marcus Smith is collected by Ollie Lawrence, both Wallaby centres [Ikitau and Sua’ali’i] default to the short side, and as the bird’s eye view widens it becomes obvious there are five Wallabies on the wrong side of the next play – all marking one Englishman who is never a realistic option to get the ball.

When England finally did get to pick on Suaalii’s defensive game in the second period, they made hay while the sun was still shining – at least in the figurative sense.

 

The Wallaby superstar-in-waiting is first cut out of the play by Lawrence’s straightening run on first phase, then he has a choice to come up and take man and ball or backpedal on the second. He chooses to drop backwards and sideways and that gives England back-rower Alex Dombrandt all the time and space he needs to release Ollie Sleightholme down the left for the score.

For a man of Suaalii’s very limited experience it is not a criticism, but it does raise the more long-term question whether he is better suited to defence in the back three, where his range of movement and high-ball ability would be huge assets, rather than plugged into the midfield where his reading of the attack at the line can be exposed.

The big positives to emerge from the game were two-fold: [1] Suaalii’s Sonny-
Bill Williams-like facility on the offload and in instinctive passing situations, and [2] his imperious, Izzy Folau-esque untouchability in the air. Try to bring the heat on Joseph-Aukuso on the pass, and it rapidly became obvious you are asking for trouble.

 

 

The second ‘basketball’-style offload was a harbinger of things to come less than three minutes later.

 

It is not just Suaalii’s capacity to stand tall, up to his full height of 6ft 5ins and deliver the offload, it is his instinctive nous to run towards the last defender and engage him before popping the ball over the top to Tom Wright to simplify the run home. That skill belongs to a natural full-back. ‘Man cannot live by the ruck alone’, he also has to make a living by the offload, and that is where Schmidt is discovering a new continuity in Australia’s attacking game.

The major plus point of the ex-leaguer’s performance was his capacity to reclaim kick-offs. Suaalii enjoyed a battle royale with England’s premier restart receiver Maro Itoje, coming out well in the black with four wins out of six against one of the top aerial forwards in the world.

 

 

It is not just the new man’s leaping range, it is his expertise at shouldering an even bigger big opponent off the ball within the contest. Suaalii is losing nothing in the backs-forwards comparison in the physical battle.

That gave the Wallabies new momentum after conceding a score, and it really counted at the end of the game, with the visitors needing to get the ball back by hook or by crook and make the final play of the game count.

 

We all know what happened from the ensuing scrum.

It may have been only Australia’s second win in their past dozen attempts against the old enemy, but it was mightily worth the wait. The euphoria of a last-ditch comeback may even be enough to screw agreement with ex-RA chairman Hamish McLennan to a sticking point – at least temporarily.

“The game needs another five Josephs as the World Cup in 2027 is just around the corner and the clock is ticking,” McLennan said recently. “Thank God for Joseph, because that’s all everyone is talking about. Australia is number 10 in the world and needs an injection of talent or there will be nothing left to sell.”

In the cold light of day, it is obvious Suaalii is an international great in the making. It is equally clear there is an awful lot of work to do to convert him into a Test-worthy centre. He is good for the game in Australia and will give a huge marketing boost to the Lions tour, but it is unlikely he will remain at 13.

With his quality in the air and ability to break defences in space with the pass or offload, full-back must be his natural spot. Australia does not need another unfulfilled talent. It is a race against time to convert him and it is one Schmidt has to win.

Comments

114 Comments
O
OJohn 1 hr ago

No I've always been a Bell fan. Terrific player. Pietsch is not bad either.

d
dw 1 hr ago

Scotland and England have national coaches. Both lost. Sad your theory falls over. Fiji and Oz won.


Also how bitter must you be that Bell performed so well? A tah playing awesome under a kiwi coach must hurt. Surely we should sack bell and Schmidt and replace them with a Queenslander that you like better.

O
OJohn 1 hr ago

Of course a national team is going to be more passionate with a coach from that nation. Where have you been ?

NZ understands this, so do South Africa, so do France.

Kiwis try to con Australians in to believing it doesn't, knowing that it will hold us back.

d
dw 1 hr ago

So the English coached England were actually far more passionate than the wallabies? Your theory makes no sense mate. The wallabies kept their nerve and believed in themselves and the coach can take some, not all of the credit for that.

M
Mzilikazi 1 hr ago

Oh, the MoM. Angus Bell clear in front for the WB's for me. But why does the MoM always come from the winning team...Marcus Smith would have been my choice over big Angus.

N
NB 1 hr ago

Agreed on both scores Miz. Marcus might have played his best match for England so far.

d
dw 1 hr ago

He did play well. Maybe the final play marked him down? Should have hung off the tackle!

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OJohn 1 hr ago

Not the passion they could show. They were very very lucky to pull that off.

N
NB 1 hr ago

So hwo did Joe do in West London. A big 'F' from you I take it.

M
Mzilikazi 1 hr ago

Joseph A Sua’ali’i's first game had me thinking who I had seen have a notable first game at International level. The standout from my memory( now not as good in the past) would be a young Welshman, Keith Jarrett. He debuted at 18, in 1967, against England, Wales winning 34 - 21(days of yore). Jarrett scored 19 pts(21 under the 7 pts converted try of today), 1 try, 7 goals.


Sua’ali’i's debut was not as spectacular as that of Jarrett, and your stats. Nick, paint a realistic picture of his game. But stats. can also be overplayed. They can't show the total picture of such as how the player dealt with pressure, how he passed or kicked, his attitudes and reactions to situations during the game. To my eye, he was always calm, very even tempered in all situations, and never showed any signs of arrogance, or getting ahead of himself.


As a coach of schoolboys long ago now, I always looked for the signs that a player had special qualities, across the whole range, skills, mental strength, ability to a team player etc. Sometimes one could pick them very young, U 13 being when boys played their first rugby in Ireland in those days... mini rugby was starting, a few weeks only late season. 12 of the players I coached went on to wear an Irish jersey at a variety of levels, right up to 4 at full Int. level. of all those players, only one I picked as a future Int. at the U13 level.


In relation to Sua’ali’i', I saw so many indications that he can develop into a very good WB, and one hopes, a great one. Now I did not see him at U13 level, but I see from one comment he had a agent already as 12 year old. So he looked very good very early. May he remain serious long term injury free.

N
NB 1 hr ago

Yes he did appear to be somewhere near 'the zone' and was a positive influence on those around him Miz. He seems to have mental strength as well as physical ability which is important.


At the same time his production will need to improve for him to stick, and that means learning cleanout and defence skills.


All in good time.

N
NB 1 hr ago

So now the WBs played without any passion at Twickers cos they hate their Kiwi coach so much??


Wake up man.

T
TKS 5 hours ago

When JAS talks about his father taking him to see England play Samoa in 2003 isn't he talking about the RWC game in Melbourne, not Twickenham? Sititi's old man tore England to pieces in that one.

N
NB 1 hr ago

Yes. But it's always good when a question to a Leaguer provokes a memory about Union.😁

d
dw 2 hours ago

Yes I think Nick just meant he has a strong connection to rugby more so than Twickenham itself

N
NH 9 hours ago

Nice one Nick. To be honest, I wasn't all that happy to see Sua'ali'i start (and particularly at 13) but I guess Joe made the decision that if he is to be a chance for the lions he has to blood him asap. And for all the huff and puff I agree he left plenty to be desired as well, but what was clever was Schmidt maximising his impact off the kick restarts. I think your comparisons with Petaia are spot on, a similar build and style of player. I'm hoping he comes back to aus union refreshed after a break in the US and we get to see him at the peak of his powers. More importantly to me, what did you think of ikitau at 12? Would you make that a permanent switch? How do the puzzle pieces fall assuming all of hunter, ikitau, kerevi, sua'ali'i, wright and maybe petaia available for lions next year? Lots of players to fit into 12, 13 and 15. For this week, I'd like to see sua'ali'i moved to Dylan P's wing, and Kerevi into centre with Len. For mine, wright has now made 15 his own, so sua'ali'i to take marika's roaming wing role.

N
NB 1 hr ago

He obv isn't happy with big Kev and that left more of a hole in the midfield than currently exists in the WB back three, so in he went at 13.


I don't know whether Lenny will stay ta 12, but he looked emgergised by the combo with JAS and that mattered. It brought the best out of him.


Kerevi is the key isn't he? Joe is being pretty coy about revealing his real thoughts on Kev, but we know he's not picking him!

O
OJohn 10 hours ago

It is somewhat of a relief to read some common sense, partly educated analysis of Suallii (I didn't want to overdo it 🙂).


There are either some incredibly stupid, naive Australian rugby fans or smart alec kiwis trying to undermine Australian rugby suggesting he should be 10, or 12 or 13. I'm going with the latter.


I'm pleased to say I was one of the few Australians who thought McLennan made some very good decisions for Australian rugby, in sacking the hopeless kiwi coach and buying Suaalii although he clearly got duped by Eddie Jones, as we all did, despite Jones starting out quite well in nearly beating the All Blacks.


I would love to hear McLennans take on that. I'd say he was pretty dirty on Eddie for prioritising his Japan retirement plan and undeservedly promoting some hopeless Tah players as a last minute hurrah favour for the Tahs, who undermined the team.

N
NB 1 hr ago

He didn't get 'duped' by Eddie, Hamish went for it hook line and sinker without doing his due diligence. In excusable in a bloke at his level of business management.


A few phone calls would have done the trick.

f
frandinand 12 hours ago

What an enjoyable game of rugby made better by the result. A real spectacle with so many tries and the lead continually changing.


However we have to remember one swallow doesn't make a summer and England are currently very weak.


The trick will be to back this up and I'm sure that is what Schmidt will be working on.


Having said that there were many promising signs with for me the highlight being our forward display. It's been a long time since I have seen a better game from an Australian pack and without any overseas players.


The most influential rugby commentator in Australia seems very quiet today.

N
NB 1 hr ago

Yes look what happened after they best Argy in the first game of their double header. They lost the return by a record score.


England wobbling rather than weak though. They just cannot find a way to finish ppl off when they are down and out, as the ABs were the week before....

O
OJohn 11 hours ago

Boo.

How come Rugbypass isn't paying me for generating such interest ? It's an outrage. The bill is in the mail

C
CO 12 hours ago

The problem sticking him at the back is the Wallabies aren't strong enough to get him enough ball and they're weak in the centre and Tom Wright is a terrific fullback.


Joseph-Aukuso definitely needs to be involved in play as much as possible and centre is where he needs to stay.

N
NB 1 hr ago

If he stays at centre he'll need to learn how to defemd and pick up contact skills in a hurry. You cannot hide a player in international rugby, hwoeber talented he is.

O
OJohn 11 hours ago

Nonsense. Wright is terrific but his defence is poor and his error rate is too high. He'd be great on the wing. Suallii risks get found out in defence at 13 or 12 by the top four or 5 teams at least. Englands defence is confused at the moment with the changes in coaching.

d
dw 12 hours ago

Thanks Nick. He and Tom Wright have similar attacking greatness and I'd love to see them partner up a bit more. They seemed to look for each other a little. Amongst all the praise for JAS someone did mention that now he has played a test opposition coaches will have video of him to analyse and plan against. I assume Gatland will be looking at the below clips?


And yes Angus Bell and Rob Valentini and Fraser and Frost....boy it was a great game to watch!!

N
NB 1 hr ago

He seemed to light a fire underneath Lenny and Tom didn't he? It was as if they suddenly saw what might be poss with him in the side....


Yes opponents will soon be 'booked up' on him, and that is another story....

O
Otagoman II 13 hours ago

Exciting that JS is up and playing. Pity about JP, he seemed to get a knock every 2 games and was out. Maybe he if spent a couple of seasons up north Australia would get a settled outside back able to display his talents.

N
NB 1 hr ago

Yes there is a subtext and one can only hope he does have the same outline to it as Jordie....

O
OJohn 11 hours ago

Petaia will get better medical management in the US football system. It will toughen him up. It's a great move. He has freakish talent also. I don't think he'll make it in the NFL but it will an excellent growing experience for him

Having run in to him in the lift previously a couple of times there is no way he is near Suallii's six foot five. Six foot 2 or 3 max.

T
Tom 19 hours ago

6'5" high jump champion playing in the centre is weird.

N
NB 13 hours ago

Indeed, Sonny-Bill is the only one of comparable size I can think of...

A
AD 19 hours ago

Well Tom


You have given me an entre!


Greg Cornelson was a high jump champion too,...he beat me on a count back after a half hour jump off.


He became a backrower!

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