Former Sydney Roosters outside back Joseph Sua’ali’i will make his professional rugby union and international debut on Saturday, with the former NRL star named in Joe Schmidt’s starting XV to take on England at Twickenham.
Sua’ali’i will start outside center for the crucial Autumn International match after impressing union bosses since his $5 million move.
He becomes the latest player to make the switch from rugby league to union, following in the footsteps of illustrious names such as Jason Robinson and Sam Burgess.
His code switch sent shockwaves through the NRL, with the 21-year-old only playing rugby union at schoolboy level.
He is the only change in the starting fifteen that lost to New Zealand in Wellington and came on for Hunter Paisami. Len Ikitau will play as number 12, while Sua’ali’i will don the number 13 jersey.
Joseph Sua’ali’i will start for the Wallabies against England at Twickenham on Saturday
Joe Schmidt has opted to hand the former NRL star his professional rugby debut
The ex-Sydney Roosters star made the move after penning a whopping $5 million deal
Schmidt explained the decision to include the former NRL star, claiming injuries to both Hunter Paisami and Samu Kerevi paved the way for Sua’ali’i’s international debut.
“We thought especially because Hunter Paisani suffered an injury and Samu Kerevi arrived late that this was the best combination for us and a very good opportunity,” Schmidt told reporters.
“I think when a player starts he gets a little more training time with the team. So getting those reps with the team I think is a benefit when you’re trying to deploy someone for the first time.”
While Schmidt also admitted there was a risk in bringing the 21-year-old into the squad straight away, he added that Sua’ali’i was Australia’s 18th debutant this year.
“It’s not a new situation for us to have a debutant,” he said. “Actually, this is the most common situation we’ve had this year.
‘In an effort to build depth and an attempt to stabilize the group we have, we see it more as an opportunity than a risk and he has been excellent, which gives us the confidence not to wait another week or two or even wait next year. ‘
The outside back has been training with the Waratahs in preparation for his professional debut, with Kerevi among others previously speaking highly of the former Roosters star.
“You’ve seen him play Origin, you’ve seen him play at the highest level of rugby league and even though it’s a different game, the translation of how he competes is there. Physically he is there. He is ready,” Kerevi said.
Schmidt explained that Sua’ali’i (pictured) will join the group with Hunter Paisami and Samu Kerevi both injured
Schmidt claimed there was a risk in dropping Sua’ali’i into the Test cauldron so quickly, but he was confident he could deliver
Schmidt is also impressed with the young center’s work ethic and dedication, adding, “He is a very professional young man. He’s had a lot of experience playing rugby union in the past and has also been professional with rugby league and is coming back to rugby union, so those things give us confidence and give Joseph the confidence, hopefully, that within a few minutes of can start. days time.
“He is meticulous with his planning before he even starts his preparation,” Schmidt said before speaking out about Sua’ali’i’s past experiences with the union.
“He makes sure he ticks all the boxes and asks a lot of questions… He obviously played a lot of rugby at school, through the Australian under-18s route, and he knows a number of players through those teams as well.”
Mail Sport exclusively revealed earlier this week that Sua’ali’i was convinced to join Rugby Australia after attending a BBQ with controversial ex-Wallabies coach Eddie Jones and former Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan.
McLennan claimed Sua’ali’i’s code switch was bigger than Burgess’s in 2014, after parting ways with the South Sydney Rabbitohs with a move to Premiership club Bath before being called up to Stuart Lancaster’s Rugby World Cup squad in 2015.
Saturday’s crunch clash will also see 14 members of Schmidt’s squad play at Twikenham for the first time.
Harry Wilson starts at number 8 and will captain the Wallabies at Twickenham on Saturday
Len Ikitau (pictured) will accompany Sua’ali’i at number 12, with Dylan Pietsch and Andrew Kellaway on the wings
Fourteen members of Schmidt’s squad will make their Twickenham debut this weekend
Number 8 Harry Wilson will lead the young side, while Rob Valetini and Fraser McReight will also start at number 6 and number 7 respectively.
Jake Gordon and Brumbies playmaker Noah Lolesio will team up in the halfback positions, while Dylan Pietsch and Andrew Kellaway will start on either wing.
Schmidt has also picked a strong front row to face England after Steve Borthwick’s side looked dominant against New Zealand in the first half scrum of their opening Autumn Nations match last weekend.
Western Force hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa starts alongside James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa. Behind them, Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams will make their Twickenham debuts, with this being the fourth time the pair have started alongside each other.
England, meanwhile, have named a largely unchanged squad for the match, with Luke Cowan-Dickie returning to the squad and making his first international appearance off the bench for the first time since 2022.