Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i had not even played a game of rugby union at club level before his Wallabies debut against England.
Some 80 minutes and a man-of-the-match display in a 42-37 win over England later, Rugby Australia’s $5million (£2.55million) man certainly looks like he belongs in the sport.
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Sua’ali’i delivered a man-of-the-match display in his professional rugby union debutCredit: Getty
Sua’ali’i sent shockwaves through the Australian sporting landscape when it was announced he would cross codes from rugby league to union in March 2023.
The 21-year-old was already a standout for National Rugby League (NRL) side Sydney Roosters, but the lure of a 2025 Lions series and a Rugby World Cup on home soil in 2027 proved too enticing to turn down.
Sua’ali’i subsequently inked a $1.6m (£815k) yearly deal with Rugby Australia until 2027.
He would also play for the New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby.
It meant Sua’ali’i would follow a similar path to England’s Sam Burgess, who was a devastating forward in rugby league before switching to union in October 2014 as he went on to play five times for England.
However, a key difference between the two is that Sua’ali’i played rugby union as a schoolboy at The King’s School.
At the time his move was announced, Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) chief Peter V’landys predicted Sua’ali’i would ‘get terribly bored’ and eventually return to the code in which he made his name.
“It’s hard to blame Joseph for going to rugby and considering it as his future when he is going to be paid twice the money for doing half the work,” V’landys told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“In rugby they play around 33 minutes per match, but in league the ball is in play for 57 minutes, so it would be a lot easier to earn your money.”
It didn’t take long for Sua’ali’i to silence the doubters in his Wallabies debut, where he lined up as the outside centre.
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Sua’ali’i was a rugby league standout in AustraliaCredit: Getty
The Wallabies’ first try against England came via some genius thinking from the 21-year-old as he drew multiple white shirts before a cheeky no-look offload to Tom Wright allowed him to cross over untouched.
Sua’ali’i would also use all six feet and five inches of his remarkable frame as a weapon from kick-offs, leaping high into the air to win the ball for his teammates.
In fact, over the course of the 80 minutes, Sua’ali’i won possession back for the Wallabies four times.
He also proved crucial in the build-up to the match-winning play.
As Australia kicked off following Maro Itoje’s 78th-minute try which looked to be the game-winner, Sua’ali’i competed for the kick-off alongside the English tryscorer.
But Itoje couldn’t make a clean grab under Sua’ali’i’s pressure and knocked the ball on.
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Sua’ali’i forced Itoje into an error that ultimately led to the Wallabies’ match-winning tryCredit: Getty
It was from the resulting scrum Sua’ali’i had forced that Australia would eventually score from, leading them to their first win against England at Twickenham in nine years.
Several former Wallabies heaped praise on Sua’ali’i’s performance, for which he was named man of the match.
“This is the X-factor that you just can’t train,” former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper said on Australian broadcaster Stan Sport.
“These guys just have it in spades. This is what we’ve heard so much about Sua’ali’i can bring to this Wallabies team. Just sheer talent. The ability to score a try out of absolutely nothing.
“And we’re liking what we’re seeing.”
Ex-Wallabies back James O’Connor added: “His ability to keep the ball live has been second to none with what I’ve seen.
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Two former Wallabies loved what they saw from Sua’ali’i in his debutCredit: Getty
“I think a big element of that has been the guys utilising him well too. The guys are really connecting around him. He’s doing things that other players just can’t do.
“He’s a big game player. He’s had three years in professional rugby league. I think he’s just adapted really well.”
Sua’ali’i won’t have to wait long to get his second rugby union Test under his belt as the Wallabies travel to the Principality Stadium to take on Wales next Sunday.
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The post Australia star had never played professional rugby union before man-of-the-match display against England first appeared on Rugby 247.
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Author : rugby-247
Publish date : 2024-11-09 21:43:10
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