Joseph Suaalii was hailed as a “freak” by his Australian midfield partner Len Ikitau after an eye-catching performance against England in his first game of professional rugby union.
The former rugby league star won the man-of-the-match award in the visitors’ 42-37 win at Twickenham on Saturday and is now training his focus on Wales.
“He is a freak, man,” Ikitau told a Wallabies press conference in Cardiff, ahead of Sunday’s clash.
“Just being able to play next to him and see what he can do on the field is awesome. And we are just expecting more from him now he has had his first game.
“We saw all of that at training. He came in, he did what he needed to learn and just showcased his skills on the field.
“I thought it was awesome to see him defending the 13 channel. He just wanted to be involved and wanted to get the ball.”
Former Wallabies flank Stephen Hoiles, speaking on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts, said he believes Suaalii can emulate and even surpass fellow league convert Israel Folau’s success with Australia.
“Absolutely we do. Whether he does or not, a lot of things will come into it,” Hoiles said.
“You watch Izzy in rugby league and Izzy was amazing at rugby league but he was on the edge and they had to kick to him and they had to work the ball to him so it wasn’t that easy to get him into the game as a rugby league player for the Broncos and the Storm.
“And you knew where he was going to get the ball. You knew in rugby league he was going to be wing or centre.
“Joseph’s the same, he’s a wing or centre in rugby league. You know how to double team a centre in rugby league.
“Things change so much in rugby and it’s very difficult to work out where a player like that is going to get the ball.
“He’s got more of an ability to roam in rugby and he’s got such good instincts for the game. I think he’s going to be a better player than Folau. I think he’s got more in him, he’s higher, he’s got a bigger leap. I think we’re in for the next superstar of Australian rugby and it couldn’t come at a better time.”
Warren Gatland’s Wales are just one defeat away from a record 11th successive Test match loss after a 24-19 reversal against Fiji and the Wallabies will be confident of collecting a 10th win from their past 12 Cardiff visits.
Suaalii is set to be at the heart of that, and even if they have not faced him in person yet, Wales know all about him.
“Seriously impressive,” was how Wales flyhalf Gareth Anscombe described Suaalii’s masterclass.
“He made the game look pretty easy, didn’t he?” Anscombe said. “But look, it is going to be a great challenge and I am sure he will probably start in the midfield.
“I thought he had a sensational debut. He was dangerous, good in the air and quite a rangy player.”
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
