Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been left buoyed with emotion by his uplifting Wallabies debut, declaring the “wonderful” expertise of his Twickenham tour de power because the very cause he switched rugby codes.
However as he mirrored on the enjoyment of taking part in 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 trying ahead to behave two of his seamless makeover in Cardiff.
Marvelling at how his journey was shifting so quick and swearing he’d been fully 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 carried out,” mentioned the one-time schoolboy prodigy, who hadn’t performed a sport 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 attempt for group mate Tom Wright (not in image) throughout the Autumn Nations Sequence 2025 match between England and Australia at Allianz Twickenham Stadium on November 09, 2024 in London, England. (Photograph by David Rogers/Getty Photos)
“My previous man’s all the time mentioned to me ‘it’s an enormous 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 really took me to a World Cup rugby sport in 2003, I believe 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 have been singing loud,” Suaalii mentioned.
“And simply to see my previous man and my mum within the crowd, they’ve been at each skilled sport 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 received six sisters and a brother, and all of us dwell in Australia, so simply to signify Australia for the primary time in an expert area was a really particular second for myself and my household.
“Actually, it was nice. It was an amazing 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 mentioned to them, it’s only one sport of 4, so simply straight on to the subsequent one in opposition to Wales,” Suaalii mentioned.
Probably the most comical factor was Suaalii’s real astonishment that his odyssey had induced 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 day-to-day. 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 through Getty Photos)
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 every single place, form of factor.
“And that was the factor I beloved 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 taking part in footy.”
To Suaalii, all this appears to be occurring in a blur.
“I really feel like I’ve simply completed the league season,” he mentioned.
“It’s solely been a month and a bit since I’ve completed there, and it truthfully simply goes quick.
“However the entire time I’ve simply been soaking every part up and studying as a lot as I can.”
And the very best information of all?
“There’s a number of development to come back in my sport from right this moment,” mused the rocket man. “I’m simply trying ahead.”
© AAP
