Suaali makes Wallabies Test debut on UK tour

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has said Joseph-Aukuso Suaali is not heading to the UK on a fact-finding mission, saying he expects the NRL convert to make his debut on the spring tour.

Less than a month after playing his final NRL game for the Sydney Roosters, Suaali was on Tuesday named as one of three new faces in the Wallabies’ 34-man squad for the four-Test campaign.

Five-eighth Tane Edmed is also given a chance to make his debut after being selected ahead of Tom Linagh, while the squad also includes untitled striker Harry Potter.

Lina will instead play for the Australia XV against Bristol and England A to give him more minutes after the Rugby Championship.

Veteran winger Marika Koroibete has been left out of the touring party entirely, with World Cup heavyweights Will Skelton and Samu Kerevi available for the first three Tests after missing Schmidt’s campaign at the start of 2024.

But the standout choice is $5 million rugby union player Suaali, who was promoted straight to the senior team rather than a new team.

Suaali trained with the Wallabies for the first time in downtown Canberra earlier this month and did enough to convince Schmidt he should play in preparation for the Lions’ tour of Australia next year.

“I’d like to think that’s what (the debut) would be like,” Schmidt said.

“We don’t put guys on the roster to learn, especially throughout the entire tour. I hope there will be some kind of integration with game time.

“Although we think it might have been better to go through (with the Australia XV development team), we play the Lions next.

“So if he doesn’t make his debut on this tour, he has very little chance. We feel a little pressure because we need to be able to track him quickly and integrate the other guys as well.”

Schmidt, however, insisted there was no pressure from above to select Suaali for the tour given his salary, and did not expect any blowback from other players.

He also said he doesn’t yet know what back-row position Suaali will play in and his debut is more likely to come against Wales, Scotland or Ireland than the opener against England on November 10.

Schmidt already has experience dealing with rugby league converts with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in New Zealand and pointed out that the biggest problem comes after contact and in the ruck.

But he expected Suaali’s upbringing as a junior rugby player would help the process.

“We’re not sure if he’s ready, but the best way to find out is to have him come to camp and get to know him,” Schmidt said.

“I’ve seen him play midfield enough in rugby league. I got very good feedback from other players who were with him in the school system.

“After a few discussions with Joseph in the center last week, he is a kid who is working hard on his game and picking things up quickly.”

The Wallabies coach also played down suggestions that rugby could pursue other NRL talent, including former chairman Hamish McLennan’s calls for an all-or-nothing game for Nathan Cleary.

Schmidt also noted former NRL player Koroibete may have played his last game for the Wallabies and said the forward was “just taking a break” before returning to Japanese club Panasonic.

Harry Wilson is one of the options to captain the Wallabies with Liam Wright still out with a shoulder injury.

WALLABIES SPRING TOUR

Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Matt Fessler, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Isaac Kylie, Fraser McCright, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Luhan Salakaya-Loto, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou , Seru Uru, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson.

Defenders: Ben Donaldson, Thane Edmed, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Samu Kerevi, Noah Lolesio, Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Suaali, Nick White, Tom Wright.