Expected as the new messiah of an Australian team in a generational trough, Joseph Sua'ali'i did not disappoint for his premiere, far from it. Author of a solid performance, both in defense and attack, the former thirteen player guided the Wallabies to a historic success against England (37-42).
A first in the professional world at the Allianz Stadium, formerly Twickenham, we had a simpler context to launch our career. But since his adolescence, Joseph Sua'ali'i has always been a player apart. Outclassed from his earliest years, he was bought for millions by the Australian fifteen-player federation from the Sydney Roosters, a legendary rugby league franchise, to embody a new project.
And the least we can say is that the player repositioned as second center made a successful debut. Relatively slender, and 196 centimeters tall, he was targeted with every referral from Noah Lolesio and often to good effect, the 21-year-old recovering three possessions. But beyond his aerial contribution, his impact in the game was immediately felt among the Wallabies.
4 passes after contact in 50 minutes
In an Australia which was keen to keep the ball alive as much as possible, the former thirteen player demonstrated all his ease in the field. After only 50 minutes of play, the new international was already credited with 4 “offloads”, one of them decisive. On a classic move, his pass after contact allows him to fix two defenders and throw Tom Wright, his fullback who played a great match, into the opposing goal. Behind by twelve points at this point in the match, this is clearly one of the turning points in a match that the Australians had started at the wrong end.
But his adaptation to rugby union also raised the question in terms of defense. Indeed, rugby union has significantly different tackling rules and the former Roosters could still have bad reflexes. The latter was not noticed for a bad gesture, quite the contrary. In the sixteenth minute of play, while the Wallabies were in trouble, it was he who made a decisive return as Tommy Freeman went for the try. His great overall performance was rewarded with the honorary title of man of the match, after a completely crazy scenario.
