'Everything is a risk': Rugby's $8m man picked for stunning Wallabies debut
Updated . First published
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will begin one of the more remarkable code-hopping journeys on Sunday (AEDT) when he makes his Wallabies debut against England in London.
The 21-year-old is yet to play a game of senior rugby and his NRL career finished only six weeks ago when the Sydney Roosters were beaten by the Melbourne Storm in the preliminary finals.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has boldly selected Rugby Australia's $8m gamble at outside centre where he will play in front of more than 80,000 fans at Twickenham.
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Schmidt had forecast Suaalii would make his debut during the four match Grand Slam Spring Tour but few observers expected him to be thrown directly into the fire.
Outside centre is regarded as the most difficult position to defend in rugby.
Suaalii's inclusion for the injured Hunter Paisami is the only change from the starting side that lost to the All Blacks in Wellington in September.
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Len Ikitau shifts from the No.13 jersey to No.12 although he and Suaalii are likely to mix and match their midfield duties.
England lost 24-22 to the All Blacks at the same venue last weekend and another Wallabies option at outside centre, Josh Flook, was also unavailable.
"Everything is a risk but I would challenge that by saying everything is an opportunity," Schmidt said of fast tracking Suaalii.
NEW PODCAST! Michael Atkinson and Sam Worthington react to the big news that Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will make his Wallabies debut against England
"And it's a fantastic opportunity for a young man who's really excited about getting the chance. There's four Test matches left this year before we embark on a massive Lions tour next year. So if not now, when? It's unlikely it'll go perfectly, but it will be a benchmark that he can build from.
"He's been excellent. That's part of what gives us confidence, not to wait another week or two weeks or until next year.
"He's a really level headed kid, and so that gives us some confidence that he will cope. But we've got to find out some time. You know, if not this week, as I said, it's next week or the week after that. No matter what Test you play up here, it's going to be really competitive, combative, and a benchmark experience for a young man."
Joseph Suaalii trains during a Wallabies training session at Victoria Barracks. Getty
It will also be Ikitau's first Test in the No.12 jersey although Schmidt confirmed the number on their backs would be somewhat irrelevant.
England have done the same with Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade swapping jerseys from what they wore against New Zealand.
"The advantage of Joseph being at 12, sometimes the physical demand is a little bit greater," Schmidt said.
"He's a big strong kid, Joseph, so that's fine. It's just that at 13, there's a few more decisions that have to get made. Just with Lenny's experience, we're sort of inside-outside maybe a little bit."
Lock Will Skelton was not included due to a lack of training time with the team.
"Will's won things that some of our young players just haven't had the habit of doing," Schmidt said.
Will Skelton and Taniela Tupou during Wallabies training at Stade Roger Baudras. Getty
"If you're not in the habit of winning, sometimes you manage to manufacture a way not to get there when maybe you can or could have.
"And we don't want to have too many 'could haves,' so it was tempting. But Will trained with us fully today for the first time. That was just too tight for us."
ENGLAND (15-1): George Furbank, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Tommy Freeman, Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer, Ben Earl, Tom Curry, Chandler Cunningham-South, George Martin, Maro Itoje, Will Stuart, Jamie George (c), Ellis Genge
Reserves: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Fin Baxter, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Alex Dombrandt, Harry Randall, George Ford, Ollie Sleightholme
WALLABIES (15-1): Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch, Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon, Harry Wilson (c), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell
Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Max Jorgensen
