Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been left buoyed with emotion by his uplifting Wallabies debut, declaring the “wonderful” expertise of his Twickenham tour de pressure because the very cause he switched rugby codes.
However as he mirrored on the enjoyment of enjoying for Australia for the primary time and delivering a player-of-the-match show in opposition to England match for his household to savour, the 21-year-old was already wanting ahead to behave two of his seamless makeover in Cardiff.
Marvelling at how his journey was transferring so quick and swearing he’d been utterly unaware of the hype swirling round him, Suaalii defined that at Twickenham he had achieved a dream after starring within the last-gasp 42-37 triumph.
“When (coach) Joe (Schmidt) gave me the nod that I used to be gonna play, it was a really emotional time, however I additionally knew I needed to get a job completed,” stated the one-time schoolboy prodigy, who hadn’t performed a recreation of union for 5 years.
“100 per cent, it was for moments like this I came visiting. It was all the time a dream of mine to come back right here, play abroad.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii of Australia passes the ball to arrange a strive for group mate Tom Wright (not in image) in the course of the Autumn Nations Collection 2025 match between England and Australia at Allianz Twickenham Stadium on November 09, 2024 in London, England. (Photograph by David Rogers/Getty Photographs)
“My previous man’s all the time stated to me ‘it’s a giant world on the market’ and rugby brings that. Yeah, simply to play right here was particular.”
The “previous man” Chris Suaalii was there with spouse Salina, having flown 1000’s of kilometres to revel of their boy’s Wallabies cap presentation after beforehand representing Samoa in rugby league.
“My previous man truly took me to a World Cup rugby recreation in 2003, I feel I used to be solely a month previous, England versus Samoa, and I used to be on the high of the gang, and the Pommies had been singing loud,” Suaalii stated.
“And simply to see my previous man and my mum within the crowd, they’ve been at each skilled recreation I’ve performed, it’s all the time particular.
“Hundred per cent, it was an emotional second. My first time representing Australia, my (maternal) grandpa over from Cambodia, and my previous man over from Samoa.
“And I’ve acquired six sisters and a brother, and all of us reside in Australia, so simply to signify Australia for the primary time in an expert enviornment was a really particular second for myself and my household.
“Actually, it was nice. It was an important win,” added Suaalii, who didn’t even realise he had been voted man of the match till his teammates knowledgeable him, leaving him feeling “stoked”.
“However like I’ve stated to them, it’s only one recreation of 4, so simply straight on to the subsequent one in opposition to Wales,” Suaalii stated.
Probably the most comical factor was Suaalii’s real astonishment that his odyssey had triggered such a fuss exterior the Wallabies camp, with English media all raving about his debut.
Requested how he was dealing with all the eye, he shrugged: “Actually, I don’t even know what’s occurring externally.
“I’ve simply targeted on daily. How can I be greatest for coaching? How can I be greatest for the subsequent day and proper now? Actually, that’s simply been my course of coming over to union once more.”
(Photograph by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport by way of Getty Photographs)
Twickenham reminded him why he’d all the time adored union: “Like there was only a little bit of freedom, simply to go play in all places, type of factor.
“And that was the factor I liked about union, with the ability to play it exterior, go soar on the wing or soar at fullback. I really feel like I’ve performed lot of positions, and I simply love enjoying footy.”
To Suaalii, all this appears to be taking place in a blur.
“I really feel like I’ve simply completed the league season,” he stated.
“It’s solely been a month and a bit since I’ve completed there, and it actually simply goes quick.
“However the entire time I’ve simply been soaking every thing up and studying as a lot as I can.”
And the most effective information of all?
“There’s lots of progress to come back in my recreation from in the present day,” mused the rocket man. “I’m simply wanting ahead.”
© AAP
