Ex-Wallaby on whether Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii should start Scotland clash

Former Wallaby Justin Harrison expects Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to come back into Australia’s starting side for their upcoming clash with Scotland. Suaalii came off the bench during the big 52-20 win over Wales, with the former NRL flyer continuing to improve as a rugby union talent.

Suaalii hadn’t played any level of professional rugby union before entering the Test arena for the first time. There was no Super Rugby Pacific debut or even a minute of New South Wales’ prestigious club competition Shute Shield, yet coach Joe Schmidt made the bold call.

It was a selection that generated plenty of buzz ahead of the Wallabies’ opening Autumn Nations Series Test against England earlier this month, but it proved to be a masterstroke. Suaalii received Player of the Match honours after starring at outside centre.

But, to the surprise of many, Suaalii was dropped back to the bench for the team’s second Spring Tour Test in Cardiff. The 21-year-old was injected into the Test during the second half and went on to impress with a couple of telling involvements, including a big shot on defence.

With Samu Kerevi unavailable for the upcoming Test at Murrayfield due to suspension, it seems more likely than not that Suaalii will return to the First XV. Anticipating that selection, Harrison spoke about how Rugby Australia’s marquee recruit has been “improving” on tour

“It’s the perfect time. Joe Schmidt has managed this squad well,” Harrison said on Stan Sports’ Spring Tour Special.

“We were curious about six changes heading into Wales, it’s a good time to let a young player know what it means and feels like to sit on the bench and watch an international game and inject yourself and Joseph did that.

“(Suaalii) came into the match, did what he needed to do, didn’t show up through fault. His attention to detail looks like it’s improving as well; small contacts, breakdown area, the game’s won between the hip and the ground.

“He’s learning about all those as he goes through this tour.”

In the Wallabies’ last Test at the Edinburgh fortress, the visitors claimed a nail-biting win after Scotland flyhalf Blair Kinghorn missed a last-minute penalty. That was the latest in a series of thrilling matchups between the sides at the well-known rugby venue.

Two of the last three meetings between the sides at Murrayfield have been decided by either one or two points, which sets the stage for another enthralling instalment of this rivalry in the early hours of Monday morning (AEDT).

Scotland hasn’t made the quarter-finals at the last two Rugby World Cups but they’re by means a team to be taken lightly. With Finn Russell steering the ship and Sione Tuipulotu taking on the role as captain, Gregor Towsend’s team is a formidable force on their day.

Earlier this year in the Six Nations, the Scots got the better of Wales and England, and also pushed international heavyweights France and Ireland close. They put up a strong fight against world champions South Africa earlier this month, too.

“They know how to attack.

“Scotland for so long have been a team that followed the profile of the Wallabies a bit; a forward pack that had to be smart and technical in the way that they got the ball, industrious how they used it.

“(Gregor) Townsend has brought in a width game into Scotland and they married that to a backrow that’s able to service possession – very important. IF you go with high width, high intensity, and you want to outpace teams, it means you’re exposing yourself to risk.

“Scotland have got that quotient very right at the moment, the balance is right at the moment. Finn Russell’s got a great decision matrix in him, he’s got a bit of showboat about him but the Scotland team react around him.”