Wallabies great calls for Suaalii switch among two key changes

Tim Horan has called on Les Kiss to make two key changes after a nail-biting 35-32 win over Japan in Osaka, including a switch for Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who the Wallabies great believes is being “wasted” at outside centre.

The Wallabies have started their new era under coach Kiss on a winning note, overcoming a red card to lock Miles Amatosero in a closely-fought Test. Japan captain Warner Dearns made it a one-score game in the dying stages, but the visitors did enough to secure the win.

As the Wallabies now look ahead to a second clash with the Brave Blossoms, which will be played at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium on August 15, Horan has outlined the changes selectors should consider making.

Declan Meredith has started the last three Tests in the starting side at fly-half, but Horan believes the Wallabies need to bring Carter Gordon into the mix. Injury has held Gordon to two matches in Wallaby gold since securing a move back from the NRL last October.

Horan has also called for Kiss to shift Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to the outside backs, after a mixed performance against the Brave Blossoms. Suaalii worked hard in a bid to get involved, but ran the ball six times less than 15 metres, still not having scored a try at Test level since last September.

“Declan Meredith at 10 struggled. It was his third Test match in a row. He’s a good Super Rugby player but we need to find [out] who’s going to be out number 10? Who’s going to be that fly-half for the next two or three years,” Horan said on Wide World of Sports.

“That’s Carter Gordon. You’ve got to get Carter Gordon in there as quick as we can. That’s one point.

“I think the second point, Joseph Suaalii is wasted at number 13. We’re just not seeing enough of him. A lot of people have been talking about, put him on the wing where he can use his height, we’ve seen what he did in the NRL.

“Get him involved in the game. He’s just being wasted at number 13.”

Suaalii lined up in a new-look Wallabies centre pairing, with Len Ikitau ruled out of the two Tests against Japan with an injury. Ikitau’s absence opened the door for Hunter Paisami to start, and the midfielder made the most of that opportunity.

Paisami finished with the second-most carries out of any Wallabies player with 10, and was one of the top tacklers on the night as well. The 28-year-old had a telling impact on the contest, with Suaalii forming the other half of the midfield duo.

“[Suaalii is] trying. He’s trying to get involved in the game,” Horan added.

“But unfortunately, the game’s not coming to him. He’s trying to find a way.”