Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has declared Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is not headed to the UK on a fact-finding mission, revealing he expects the NRL convert to debut on the year-end tour.
Less than a month after playing his final NRL game for the Sydney Roosters, Suaalii was on Tuesday named as one of three new faces in the Wallabies 34-man squad for the four-Test campaign.
Flyhalf Tane Edmed is also a chance to debut after being picked ahead of Tom Lynagh, while uncapped wing Harry Potter is also in the squad.
Lynagh will instead play for an Australia XV side against Bristol and England A, in a bid to give him more minutes after the Rugby Championship.
Veteran wing Marika Koroibete was left out of the touring group completely, while World Cup heavyweights Will Skelton and Samu Kerevi are available for the first three Tests after missing Schmidt’s early 2024 campaign.
But the most remarkable selection is Rugby Union’s AU$5 million man, Suaalii, who has been brought straight into the top squad rather than an emerging side.
Suaalii trained with the Wallabies in a Canberra hub for the first time earlier this month, and did enough to convince Schmidt he should play in preparation for next year’s Lions tour of Australia.
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“I’d like to think that (a debut) will be the case,” Schmidt said.
“We don’t put guys in the squad to have them learn, certainly not for a full tour. I would hope there would be some integration into game time.
“As much as we think maybe it might be better to come through (in the Australia XV development squad), we play the Lions next.
“So if he doesn’t debut on this tour, there is very little window. We feel a little bit of pressure to be able to fast track him and integrate those other guys as well.”
Schmidt, however, insisted there was no pressure from above to pick Suaalii for the tour given his salary, and did not expect blowback from other players.
He also said he did not yet know what backline position Suaalii would play, with his debut more likely to come against Wales, Scotland or Ireland than in the opener against England on November 10.
Schmidt has previous experience bringing across rugby league converts with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in New Zealand, and pointed to the biggest challenge being post-contact and in the ruck.
But he expected Suaalii’s upbringing as a rugby junior to assist the process.
“We’re not sure he’s ready, but the best way to find that out is having him in camp and getting to know him a bit further,” Schmidt said.
“I’ve seen enough of him play as a rugby league player in the midfield. I’ve got really good feedback from other players who were with him in the school system.
“Having had a couple of discussions with Joseph in the hub last week, he’s a kid who works hard on his game and is quick to pick things up.”
The Wallaby coach also played down suggestions rugby could pursue other NRL talent, including calls from former chair Hamish Mclennan to make an all-or-nothing play for Nathan Cleary.
Schmidt also indicated former NRL player Koroibete may have played his last game for the Wallabies, and said the wing was “just having a break” before returning to Japanese club Panasonic.
Harry Wilson is one option to captain the Wallabies with Liam Wright still out with an injured shoulder.
WALLABIES SQUAD
Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Isaac Kailea, Fraser McReight, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Seru Uru, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson.
Backs: Ben Donaldson, Tane Edmed, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Samu Kerevi, Noah Lolesio, Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Nic White, Tom Wright.
