Wallabies legend reveals where Suaalii actually wants to play
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii gets asked the question a lot. What position do you want to play? The answer is always a variation of whatever is best for the team.
But Wallabies legend Tim Horan reckons the private view is different. “He wants to play at 12,” Horan revealed on Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii warms up during a Wallabies training session. Getty Images
Suaalii has been named in the No.13 jersey for Saturday night’s Australia vs Ireland Nations Championship opener at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.
His midfield combination with Len Ikitau has been one of the few constants in Joe Schmidt’s selections since he made the switch from league.
But Horan - arguably the greatest No.12 in world rugby history - reckons Schmidt’s got things inside out.
“Lenny Ikitau’s a wonderful player, and he’s played some great footy over in the Gallagher Premiership in the UK,” the two-time Rugby World Cup winner said.
“We haven’t seen the best of Joseph Suaalii this year, but I think that combination works really well. I’ll tell you what I’d love to see later in the year is swap them around. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, put him at 12. He wants to play at 12.
“Lenny Ikitau’s very good at 13. I reckon he’s a better 13 than he is 12... Joseph wants to play 12.”
Suaalii’s professional rugby debut - winning man of the match against England in 2024 - has set an impossibly high bar for him.
He battled injury and struggled to make an impact for a poor NSW Waratahs team this season but the potential remains obvious.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii of Australia is tackled by Ireland. Sportsfile via Getty Images
Suaalii will play outside yet another new playmaking combination in Ryan Lonergan and Carter Gordon on Saturday.
It will be Lonergan’s first Test start after an impressive season with the ACT Brumbies and he may well be asked to kick goals as well.
“The longer range kicks, Ryan Lonergan, you’d think would take,” Horan said.
“He’s a wonderful goal kicker and, a little bit like Nic White, can take those ones 50-55 (metres) out if really needed. But this is picked on form…
“Ryan Lonergan, he’s going to really get around the edge of the breakdown and snipe.”
The Wallabies haven’t beaten Ireland since 2018.
Mack Hansen of Ireland controls the ball whilst under pressure from Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii of Australia. Getty
Ireland’s 5-0 run includes a 46-19 Dublin drubbing in their last meeting last year.
Their coach, Andy Farrell, was also victorious on Australian soil in 2025 when he guided the British and Irish Lions to a 2-1 series win.
But Farrell remains wary of a team coached by his old Ireland boss in Schmidt.
“I mean, they’ve got some superb rugby players,” Farrell said.
“You look at the centres and the edges that they’ve got, and the backrow that they’ve got, and the people that they’ve come in off the bench, and the people that they’ve got out injured.
“You can see the capability of the side, and I read some reports this week that if they get it right, they can beat anyone in world rugby and I would agree with that.”
WALLABIES (15-1): Jock Campbell, Max Jorgensen, Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch, Carter Gordon, Ryan Lonergan, Harry Wilson (c), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Josh Canham, Jeremy Williams, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Nasser, Angus Bell
Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Lachlan Shaw, Tom Hooper, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Tom Wright
IRELAND (15-1): Hugo Keenan, Rob Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Tom O’Toole
Reserves: Rónan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Thomas Clarkson, Tadhg Beirne, Nick Timoney, Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley, Bundee Aki
Stan Sport is the only place to watch every match of the Nations Championship live and on demand. Wallabies matches are also available live on Nine and 9Now
