Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s search for ‘freedom’ as ex-Wallabies suggest positional change
Ex-Wallabies suggest Joseph-Aukuso Suaali'i positional change to create freedom out wide
Former Wallabies have argued that Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii should move to the wing to give him more freedom around the park.
Appearing on the KOKO show, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell and Adam Ashley-Cooper debated moving the league convert outwards to help him regain his form and perform at his best for Australia.
“I’ve always said 13,” said Mitchell. “I’ve always been strong in that. I think it’s also about the 10 that he plays with to unlock him. I don’t think he’s necessarily played with the 10s that can get the best out of him.”
The 23-year-old missed out on playing with Carter Gordon against Japan due to injury, but has played with fly-halves Noah Lolesio, Ben Donaldson, Declan Meredith, Tane Edmed, Tom Lynagh and James O’Connor since first making his Wallabies debut in 2023.
“He’s got genuine gifts, right? Like in athleticism, unquestionable. Is it a matter of actually just shifting him out one channel, just to give him a little bit more freedom and space where he operates so well?”, asked Adam Ashley-Cooper.
“Do we just plug him one out, get him catching balls in the backfield or on the edge in open play on line bands in space or playing on top of fields, as opposed to keeping him in that channel?
“He’s still a 13, but do we get him back out just to get him some free flow again, allow him to express himself, build the confidence levels, belief levels?”
Suaalii has been named in the 34-man Wallabies squad for the upcoming Flight Centre Series Tests against Los Pumas in Argentina and will want to regain his match fitness after missing much of the early Super Rugby season through injury.
“Why don’t you just play to their strengths?”
Rugby is a constantly evolving game, one that now involves hybrid players and bomb squads, so what’s to say that the backline cannot develop further?
“I don’t care what number they’ve got; why don’t you just play to their strengths?” Mitchell asked.
“Start him on that set piece on the wing; he can have a 13 on his back, but for those particular strike plays, they’re called strike plays for a reason. If the best strike that you can throw is having him on the wing, then you put him there. If it’s a centre-field scrum, the best is to have him behind the scrum in the 15 position. Put him there.
“And alternatively, if you’ve got someone else in that backline whose strengths are in a different position for that strike play, then play them there, and then they can find their way back to their normal positions.
“I just think if we had a, if the attack coach can just go, look, what are our best strengths? What are our athletes and our best strengths? And in what areas can we get the most out of them, and without disrupting the team so much? And if it’s that, then who gives a shit what number he’s got on his back? Just play him to his best ability.”
Ashley-Cooper agreed, saying: “If you select him at wing, you’re starting him on the edge anyway in space; he’s a natural free player. He’s going to gravitate towards the ball anyway, so he’s going to find himself in those tighter channels.”
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