From the moment Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii made his debut against England at Twickenham, you knew that the Wallabies had something special.
After just 11 Tests, it is clear now. The 22-year-old is the best centre in the game. There are really good centres, there are some world-class centres, and then there is Joseph Suaalii.
From a technical perspective, he is still learning the intricacies of areas like the breakdown and clean-out work that can only come with experience. He’s not perfect in that part of the game.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus masterfully sidesteps a tricky question about match officials
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus masterfully sidesteps a tricky question about match officials
But what Suaalii brings to the table is unique, a game-changing attacking skillset combined with special athleticism that propels him to the top of the list.
The offloading skills, passes laced with soft touches and fast hands, were visible immediately when he took apart England. It’s AFL-like, the disposals are quick and open up opportunities for others. They used him as an aerial fetcher, from chip kicks and restarts, where Suaalii was sent to climb above all and bring in a ‘speccy’.
For his first international try assist, he bounced outside his man, Ollie Sleighthome, with a quick stutter and basketball-passed the ball over the top of English fullback George Furbank, who was biting in hard.
This play was replicated in the third and final British & Irish Lions Test to set up Dylan Pietsch in the corner for the opening try. He bounced outside, forced Tommy Freeman to bite, and shovelled a no-looker to his wing. The delivery on the pass wasn’t perfect, but he gave Pietsch something more valuable, the space.
So many players can deliver a ball wide perfectly on the chest to their wing, and so few can give their wing outside space. That’s the talent of Suaalii. The vision and sixth sense for the way the play will unfold are out of this world.
Despite being 6’5, what makes Suaalii dangerous is that he is a creator first, not a ball-hogging runner. There is a midfield crisis around the international game where most are completely devoid of this creative instinct.
Over-programmed into robotic line runners, many possess tunnel vision and make a living carrying and recycling possession. They have no feel for the pass nor the skills to make a variety of them. They don’t understand the nuance of baiting a tackle and giving the next man ball and space.
Suaalii is smooth like water, adapting all the time to the shape of the defence and looking to promote. It can be rapid or it can be slow. You go to him, he doesn’t come to you. He’ll bounce around you and tease the next man. Then he makes you both pay.
In the second Lions Test, after he broke through the Lions’ defence into the open back field, his first instinct was to look for support and find the right option. He put Tom Wright away untouched for the final 60 metres after beating no less than three Lions. He wasn’t trying to overplay the situation and see if he could do it all himself. There was calmness.
In his first Test against the Springboks in the historic Ellis Park Test, there were multiple plays by Suaalii that shaped that game.
Down by 22-0 early, the Bok edge rush defence forced Suaalii to step back inside and throw the left foot step a couple times. With a prop hanging off his boot lace, Suaalii popped a one-handed pass with nonchalance to his midfield partner Len Ikitau.
The Bok defence thought the play was over. The rush was spent. They were retreating and disjointed, and all of a sudden, Ikitau created a 1-2 return pass with O’Connor to give Pietsch an open passage to the line.
It was a simple second-chance opportunity created by Suaalii to catch South Africa napping after the sting was taken out of the tail.
His intercept of Mannie Libbok was the play that really gave the Wallabies momentum. Scoring his first Test try, he burnt away from Edwell van der Merwe, making him look like a slouch.
In the Wallabies’ 28-24 comeback win over Argentina, he had two tries, one from a brilliant Ikitau offload and the second from his trademark bounce to the outside.
But it was Suaalii’s defence that was arguably more important. Down by 21-7, he produced two massive defensive efforts. One of his tackles around his own 22 forced an attacking penalty. In another on halfway, he forced a strip that was hacked ahead and pinned Argentina in their in-goal.
He forced the momentum shift through defence first, and that led to the first try in the comeback.
He is putting together a World Player of the Year campaign in 2025, and the Wallabies might have the toughest international calendar ever put together.
The British & Irish Lions in July, two Tests against South Africa away, Argentina at home, before a trip to Eden Park for the first of two against the All Blacks.
Five more Tests through November include England in London, Ireland in Dublin and France in Paris. They will end up playing every top-five-ranked nation in rugby in their own backyards by the end of the year.
If they continue winning, the Wallabies should have multiple players nominated for World Player of the Year, given how tough this slate was.
Suaalii’s deal with Rugby Australia was made out to be all about money. There was a high price tag, but the deal was more than that.
After signing, he spoke about always wanting to be a Wallaby and play the Lions, about it being a lifelong goal. He gave up his NRL career at just age 21 to do so. That was a big sacrifice, and so the decision to switch codes by Suaalii put incredible value on the Wallabies jersey. This has been priceless.
Since the day of his arrival, the Wallabies have been different. He brought confidence and swagger with him that has lifted the squad. So many players are playing their best rugby of their careers. Of course, the coaching staff are brilliant, but the belief is new.
The Wallabies are selling out. Australians can sense this team is different. The Wallabies are back, and the Suaalii deal was worth every cent.