Ex-Wallaby calls on Joe Schmidt to make ‘controversial pick’ at outside centre and give Joseph Suaalii a very different bench role
Joseph Suaalii has been a regular Wallaby No.13 , but Justin Harrison wants Joe Schmidt, inset, to now change things
Former Wallaby Justin Harrison has called on outgoing Australia boss Joe Schmidt to make a controversial call about Joseph Suaalii at outside centre when the Nations Championship starts in July.
Kiwi Schmidt has three matches remaining in charge of the Wallabies before the reins are handed to Les Kiss, his former Ireland assistant.
It’s a schedule that will begin in Sydney on July 4 against the Irish before matches on the following Saturdays against France in Brisbane and Italy in Perth.
Ahead of the new tournament’s hectic start, which will culminate in a Twickenham finals weekend following another series of Test matches in Europe in November, the Australian squad contenders have been playing for their clubs, mainly in Super Rugby Pacific.
“I have got a bit of a gun to the head principle…”
This weekend’s fixtures will see the Reds host the Chiefs, the Waratahs travel to the Highlanders and the Brumbies host the Force in an all-Australian derby.
After discussing the predictions for those matches on the latest edition of Rugby Heaven, the Stan Sport preview programme, ex-lock Harrison and double Rugby World Cup winner Tim Horan were asked to name their Wallaby backline to face Ireland in eight weeks.
Whereas Horan, an ex-centre in his playing days, plumped for Suaalii as his outside centre in tandem with Len Ikitau, Harrison adopted a gun to the head philosophy with his selection and he insisted that Filipo Daugunu – a winger by trade – should be the starting No.13.
Daugunu earned his 20th cap off the bench the last time the Wallabies were in action versus France last November, having started on the wing the previous weekend against Ireland.
He has since been placed on the wing this year for the Reds. However, while Suaalii has been Schmidt’s preferred Test-level outside centre, Harrison would drop him to the bench and select him as the back-up No.10 and instead start Daugunu at No.13 to get the best in-form players on the pitch.
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“I have got a bit of a gun to the head principle,” said Harrison about the seven backs he would pick for the Wallabies to start against the Irish. “My gun to my head is we’re kicking off in an hour, we need a backline right now. That’s how I roll.
“I have picked Filipo at 13 because if we are talking about form, you have got to find (a place for him), what’s the conversation with a player when you are saying they are in the team or not?
“You have got to give him a valid reason for not being in the team, a valid reason for being in the team. I feel like Daugunu at 13. Let’s call it a controversial pick. You’ve got to find a way to get him on the team.
“Is (Max) Jorgensen or (Dylan) Pietsch out of the team (on the wing)? No way because then they are gone forever. Next contract, they sign overseas because that is a consideration.
“And then at 15 Tom Wright… because I know he is world class, I know he has got more in him and I am going to pick him because, ‘I’m backing ya’. You know that coach relationship, ‘I’m taking a risk for you, you take a risk for me and give me some stuff out there’. That’s how you give it to them. Everyone else, I feel pretty good about.”
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Harrison’s ‘everyone else’ included Ryan Lonergan and Ben Donaldson at half-back, with Ikitau at 12. He then added: “I’ve just realised Carter Gordon is a bit of an injury cloud and I did pick him as a back-up 10, so if I had to shift him out, do you know who I’d have as back-up 10? Suaalii. He played 10 in school. He’d want to get the ball in his hands.”
These were selection calls that took Horan by surprise. He had gone first in the ‘name your backline’ segment and had chosen three different players in his backline compared to Harrison’s choice.
“I have gone Kalani Thomas (at nine). His form the last three or four weeks has been great. Ryan Lonergan probably got the jump on his early this year and is a goal kicker, but I have gone Carter Gordon at 10.
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“We need someone who is going to be the 10 for the next two or three years. Carter Gordon is that person from what I have seen from him, but also what he can produce. I don’t think he is at his best yet.
“Pietsch is great (at 11). Len Ikitau (12). Joseph Suaalii at 13. I notice you guys haven’t gone for Joseph, but he is wonderful, a star player in a gold jersey. Jorgensen, of course, (at 14) and Tom Wright (15).
“I have been impressed with him after coming back from the ACL injury to be able to then, in his first couple of games, look reasonably sharp. A bit to go yet, and in the next couple of games you will see that (with the Brumbies).
“Don’t forget, Joe Schmidt has his favourites and he will be doing those first three Test matches until Les Kiss comes in,” added Horan.
“I’m hearing Les Kiss will come in and have a bit of an influence over maybe the second Test match against France in Brisbane and the third Test match. A little bit of selection, but also the game plan and the style of game that he wants to be able to pick up post those Test matches. Les says it is Joe Schmidt’s team, his style. There has got to be a transition somewhere.”
Horan didn’t entirely play it safe with his predicted Wallaby backline as he added that if there was an injury to either of his preferred wingers, he would turn to Zac Lomax, the recent recruit from rugby league who has played just three union matches for the Waratahs since his code switch.
“If there is an injury to Pietsch or Jorgensen, I’d throw Zac Lomax in. I’ve seen enough of him now. I like him, I like what I have seen. He has got a long way to go, but you have got to have him in that environment.”
