Les Kiss explains ‘three or four’ factors behind Suaalii’s Wallabies switch

Wallabies coach Les Kiss has explained the headline-grabbing decision to name Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii on the wing for the first time, with Hunter Paisami and Len Ikitau set to rekindle their centre combination against the Springboks in Perth.

Suaalii has only ever started Test matches with the No. 13 jersey on, but has also spent time as a regular fullback for the NSW Waratahs last year. ‘Su’ was actually named in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Year at fullback, selected ahead of others like Tom Wright and Will Jordan.

Whether the Wallabies should move Suaalii away from the midfield has been a talking point for a while. Morgan Turinui said on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts two months ago, “I never want to see Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii play 13 again”, instead seeing the code-hopper as a back three player.

As the one-year countdown to Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia nears, with the Wallabies hosting Hong Kong China in the tournament-opener on October 1, Kiss and the other selectors have identified multiple reasons behind this selection call.

“The first day and the first meeting I had with Su, we said we’ll start at 13 and that’s where we’ll work from at that stage. We tried to build different ways to approach replacements and of those was that Su could move to the wing,” Kiss told reporters in Perth.

“The opportunity to look at this game came from probably three or four different angles; aerial battle is going to be big. He’s probably one of the best in the business.

“I think Hunter [Paisami] has been playing unbelievable footy and Lenny’s [Ikitau] class is there so it gave us an opportunity to look at that centre partnership as well, together again.

“Six-two [bench] also fashioned out a mindset… there’s a lot of factors that went into play here. It just made sense to us, when we discussed it as a coaching group, to launch him from the wing and he’s up for it.”

Suaalii has come off the bench twice for the Wallabies, but has otherwise exclusively been used in the run-on side as an outside centre. The 23-year-old has regularly combined with Len Ikitau in the midfield, but the team looks a bit different this week.

Suaalii joins Waratahs teammate Max Jorgensen and 50-Test fullback Tom Wright in the new-look back three. Jorgensen, who was named in the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Year on the wing, was asked about the decision to move Suaalii out wide.

“It’s very exciting for Su. First game on the wing – I know he’s pretty excited,” Jorgensen said.

“Everyone knows what he can bring.

“Obviously the aerial battle is going to be a huge one, everyone knows how good he is in the air and it’s going to be a good change-up for him and it’s definitely exciting.”

Paisami and Ikitau will link up in the centres for the first time in two years, with the two boasting more than 90 Test caps of experience between them. Ikitau is the reigning recipient of the John Eales Medal, which is awarded to the Wallabies’ Player of the Year.

Ikitau has previously been a regular starter at outside centre for both club and country, playing that role for the ACT Brumbies and the Wallabies. But last season, Ikitau was primarily used as an inside centre by both the Exeter Chiefs and the national team.

“Both Len and Hunter can play 13 well. Their defensive reads are very strong in that 13 channel,” Kiss explained.

“Lenny’s no stranger to 13, we know that. I would imagine at different times they’ll be able to chop and change and make some difference or manage their positions in that way.

“Both of them are very useful how they use their hands and their footwork. They both have a really good short passing game but equally a long passing game.”