<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>332798</docID> <postdate>2024-11-10 13:46:45</postdate> <headline>‘So much fun’ for Suaalii as he’s hailed by Wallabies</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-332799" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241110199381167513-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="601" /></p> <caption>Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii shows his skill with this pop pass to set up a Wallabies try against England. (AP PHOTO)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Ian Chadband</strong> in London</span></p> <p><strong>Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been hailed as "freak" and "great" with his Wallabies' squadmates in awe of his striking debut in the gold shirt following the gilded code-hopper's man-of-the match display against England at Twickenham.</strong></p> <p>The modest 21-year-old sounded as if being thrust into the international cauldron before he's even played a game of senior club rugby was just child's play as he put on a show for his folks and was left smiling: "Honestly, I had so much fun out there."</p> <p>Suaalii made it seem absurd that he'd not played a game of rugby union for five years as, for the most part, he looked as if he'd never been away from the sport he had lit up as a schoolkid.</p> <p>Playing a full 80-minute part, helping create one try and proving influential with his excellent offloading, staying upright in the tackle and terrific high-ball challenging, the former NRL star was the toast of his more experienced teammates.</p> <p>"Obviously, it was a baptism of fire. He's put straight in there - but he was great, did his job, and he'll learn. And he'll get better," was the glowing verdict of Fraser McReight, who reckoned Suaalii was key to their last-gasp winning try in the 42-37 victory.</p> <p>From the restart after England had just gone ahead through a 79th minute Maro Itoje try, McReight noted: "I didn't know what to feel. We had another minute to go, and what had been working us all game was 'get Joseph up in the air'.</p> <p>"He did that very well and we were able to get the ball back."</p> <p>Indeed, from the resultant scrum after Itoje knocked on under Suaalii's keen attention, winger Max Jorgensen was able to be freed for the expertly-worked seven-phase winning score down the left edge.</p> <p>Watched by his parents who had flown in to London, the highlight of the youngster's tour de force came with a league-style pop pass over onrushing England defenders that sent Tom Wright away for Australia's first score that launched their comeback.</p> <p>"I just soaked up the whole moment of putting the Wallabies jersey on, it was a very special thing for my family and I," Suaali said in a post-match TV interview.</p> <p>"Honestly, I had so much fun out there, and I was just glad to get the win."</p> <p>Of his teammates heaping praise on him, he just added coyly: "Yeah, it's good things that they're saying, but I've come in, I'm 21 years old, and I feel like I'm just being myself. I've just loved the energy from all the boys."</p> <p>For coach Joe Schmidt, it felt like the reward for Suaalii's efforts in training over the week.</p> <p>"Joseph obviously got a few kick-offs back for us - he's an aerial freak - but at the same time, it was a good learning experience," said Schmidt, suggesting that people could now see why he was worth the 'risk' of playing.</p> <p>"Particularly the way he prepared during the week, he was really professional. He was also really well supported (in the centres) by Lenny Ikitau, who was outstanding.</p> <p>"He's still probably finding his feet in the game - there are such subtleties that are very different - but with his diligent work ethic, that professionalism and the athleticism that he possesses, I thought it was a really confidence-boosting debut."</p> </body>