A code-hopping 21-year-old has announced himself as Australian Rugby’s newest star. As the Wallabies downed England at Twickenham 42-37 for the first time at the iconic venue since the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii made a debut for the ages. Watch every ball of Australia v Pakistan ODI Series LIVE & exclusive to FOX CRICKET, available on Kayo.
New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. It was the former Sydney Roosters and New South Wales State of Origin representative’s first game of rugby union since high school after he signed a lucrative $5.
35 million deal over the next three seasons, but the 198cm centre showed few signs of rust. Suaalii was in the thick of things from the opening kick off and his ability to get his arms free in tackles was a standout, which was best displayed by him setting up a first half try for Tom Wright with a one-handed, basketball-style, chest pass. The Wallabies hyped up his debut massively in the lead-up to this game and their three-year signing of him is strategic with next year’s British and Irish Lions Tour and a home World Cup in 2027 on the horizon, and UK Telegraph’s senior rugby writer Charlie Morgan believes Australia has found its star attraction for those much-hyped events.
“Already, the investment seems promising. His presence alone will be enough to enliven the Lions series,” Morgan wrote. “Ominously for Andy Farrell (Lions Head Coach), he is likely to be much better by the time of.