Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been plunged into a dramatic Wallabies’ debut against England - just 27 days after his first training session with his new rugby teammates.
The Roosters superstar has been handed the No.13 jersey for Saturday’s (Sunday morning AEDT) clash at Twickenham by coach Joe Schmidt, who believes the new boy will make an instant impact in the midfield cauldron.
“We have confidence he will adapt very well,” Schmidt said after naming the team on Thursday.
“Everything's a risk, but I would challenge that with ‘everything's an opportunity’, and it's a fantastic opportunity for a young man who's really excited about getting the chance.
“There are four Test matches left this year before we embark on a massive Lions’ tour next year. So if not now, when? I think it makes some sense for him to play. It's unlikely it'll go perfectly, but it will be a benchmark that he can build from.”
Suaalii’s bow at outside centre launches his $5.35 million, three-year deal with Rugby Australia in the most high-profile fashion, getting a place in the starting XV when many had expected him to be given his introduction off the bench.
It comes just six weeks after the 21-year-old Suaalii played his last NRL game for the Roosters in a preliminary-final loss to the Storm and will be his first game of union since representing the Australian Schoolboys team five years ago.
Suaalii will be joined in the centres by experienced 35-cap Len Ikitau in what looks like the combination Schmidt sees as being the way forward for the Wallabies with a view towards next year’s Lions tour.
It’s a big call for a match the Wallabies urgently need to win after three straight Rugby Championship losses and five defeats in their last six.
They're undertaking a 'grand slam' tour of the British Isles and will be desperate to avoid defeat at the first hurdle at a venue where they haven't won since the 2015 World Cup clash.
"I think Joseph is our 17th or 18th debutant this year so it's not a new situation for us to have a debutant. In fact, it's the most common situation that we've had this year," said Schmidt
"In an effort to build depth and an effort to stabilise the group that we have, we see it as an opportunity more than as a risk and he's been excellent, which gives us confidence not to wait another week or two or even next year,."
Suaalii is the only change to the starting XV from the Wallabies' last Test, the 33-13 defeat by New Zealand in Wellington.
There are 14 players in the matchday 23, captained by Harry Wilson, who will play at Twickenham for the first time.
There's no place in the 23 for the returning stars, Samu Kerevi and Will Skelton, not yet deemed to be conditioned for the fray following England's narrow loss to the All Blacks last weekend.
Australia team to face England at Twickenham:
1. Angus Bell (33 Tests), 2. Matt Faessler (12 Tests), 3. Taniela Tupou (56 Tests), 4. Nick Frost (21 Tests), 5. Jeremy Williams (8 Tests), 6. Rob Valetini (48 Tests), 7. Fraser McReight (22 Tests), 8. Harry Wilson (c) (19 Tests), 9. Jake Gordon (27 Tests), 10. Noah Lolesio (26 Tests), 11. Dylan Pietsch (4 Tests), 12. Len Ikitau (35 Tests), 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (debutant), 14. Andrew Kellaway (35 Tests), 15. Tom Wright (33 Tests).
Rpelcaments: 16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (16 Tests), 17. James Slipper (140 Tests), 18. Allan Alaalatoa (76 Tests), 19. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (37 Tests), 20. Langi Gleeson (9 Tests), 21. Tate McDermott (37 Tests), 22. Ben Donaldson (13 Tests), 23. Max Jorgensen (3 Tests).
