Ex-Wallabies weigh in on Suaalii’s latest performance at outside centre

NSW Waratahs utility Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has earned some praise from two former Wallabies after an improved performance in a 31-26 defeat to the Highlanders, although whether the high-profile talent should shift to the back three remains a talking point.

Suaalii returned from injury in a key Australian derby against the Western Force earlier this month, lining up at outside centre after two months out of the game. The 22-year-old was ranked 35^th overall for total carries with three runs for two metres, as the Waratahs lost 20-17 in Sydney.

Coach Dan McKellar retained Suaalii in the midfield for a clash crucial across the ditch, as the Waratahs looked to give their playoff hopes a boost against the Highlanders. Max Jorgensen was the only player who ran the ball more than Suaalii, finishing with 14 carries.

Sid Harvey and Jorgensen were the top two for carry metres, but Suaalii earned a spot on the podium with more than 70. The midfielder recorded a couple of line breaks and helped set up Andrew Kellaway for much-needed points in the 22^nd minute.

Suaalii got the ball inside the red zone, drawing in defenders Jonah Lowe and Cameron Millar by skipping across the field. Millar came across in cover, but Suaalii got a basketball pass off to Jorgensen, who sent the ball to try-scorer Kellaway.

“In attack he was awesome. In attack I was really impressed with him, back to what we’re expecting of him,” Dunning said on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts.

“13 is a really tough position to defend at. It’s the hardest place in the field as far as I know to defend on the field.

“It’s a bi adjustment. You saw so many converts come from league and play wing or 12, they couldn’t play 13.

“It’s so hard that defensive role there.”

Turinui suggested last week the Waratahs should go with an outside backs trio of Suaalii, Harvey and Jorgensen. Harvey continued to lead the race for Super Rugby Pacific Rookie of the Year honours, and Triston Reilly is a potential option to slot in at outside centre.

Former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper agreed with those comments, but acknowledged “we aren’t in there week to week, we aren’t privy to the conversations that are going on” within the Waratahs team environment this season.

McKellar hit back at the criticism and scrutiny surrounding Suaalii before jetting off to New Zealand, opting to retain the star Wallaby in the centres. Suaalii impressed in attack and completed at about 70 per cent accuracy on the other side of the ball.

But Turinui still believes moving Suaalii is the correct call.

“The threats that the Highlanders had, the speed of ball that they’re getting in patches, you’ve got three or four different guys running down your channel, it’s a big decision-making position,” Turinui explained.

“I don’t think he should be there. Any time he touched the ball on the weekend was early ball… it wasn’t a 13’s position. It’s something he could do from the back three.

“But the great thing was they finally said what they’ve been saying for a couple of weeks, ‘We’ve just got to get him some ball and see what happens.’

“Give him the ball, let him set the bloke in front of him, skip to the outside, if he comes in, he gets that offload away. It’s a carbon copy of what we saw to Tom Wright at Twickenham. It’s the first time we’ve seen it in a long time so at least they’ve got that right.”