Western Force expose Lions weakness that Wallabies and Joseph Suaalii can exploit

The Western Force may have suffered a thrashing at the hands of the British & Irish Lions, but in defeat they showed the Wallabies right where they can hurt the touring side.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii looms as the greatest threat to the British & Irish Lions after the Western Force exposed a glaring weakness the Wallabies can exploit.

The Lions, despite their 54-7 win in Perth, look vulnerable from kick restarts, and Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is sure to launch big-jumping Suaalii from kick-offs against the shaky tourists.

They lost four of eight kick restarts against the Force at Optus Stadium, as Nic White’s pinpoint kick-offs found a flying Dylan Pietsch or caused Lions errors, after they’d been targeted in the same area the previous weekend when Argentina beat them 28-24.

The Lions struggled at kick restarts. Picture: Colin Murty/AFP

“We only had the Pumas game to go off, but we decided we could get in behind that pod and put Pietschy there and try to catch it over the pod, which is what we got the first time,” Force coach Simon Cron said.

“And then those boys have been working hard on their get-backs just in front of that pod as well, so move them forward or move them back, and Pietschy’s just great in the air so were able to target that and put some pressure there.”

Suaalii was successfully used to win back kick restarts during last year’s Wallabies spring tour and for NSW in the Super Rugby season, and his supreme aerial skills will cause headaches for Lions coach Andy Farrell.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is a proven threat under the high ball. Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP

“We need to catch them,” Farrell said of their restart woes.

“I thought there was plenty to improve on throughout. You mentioned kick-offs there, so it’s a good warning for us, isn’t it?”

Pietsch made a compelling case to play for the Wallabies in the first Test, not only excelling in the air but making several breaks and putting on heavy hits in defence.

He has certainly set the tone for how Australia can attack the Lions.

“Whitey’s one of the best restart kickers probably in the world, I’d say,” Pietsch said.

“He was putting it on the absolute dime in between the pod and that back-lifter there. We tried to exploit that and it ended up he was putting it there every single time. It just kind of made me look good.

“I just love playing big games. I had a pretty bad injury run this year and had eight weeks off and then played the Tahs game and had four weeks into this game.

“I was just excited to play again and get the ball in your hands and see what happens. It’s a big part of my game as I try to be very physical. If you see that week in and week out, I’m doing my job right.

“I’m just really excited that I played for the Force against the Lions, and in the jersey I designed is the best thing. I’m going to (Wallabies) camp next week and just try to prep the boys for the Fiji game.

“Playing the Lions is one of the biggest things. That was so fun out there and to be able to potentially do that again is definitely a big thing.”

Dylan Pietsch has put himself in the frame for Wallabies selection. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images

But the Lions showed they also have plenty to make the Wallabies concerned.

Their transition from turnover to attack, particularly in the second half, was stunningly fast, leading to several long-range tries.

Force and Wallabies playmaker Ben Donaldson said the blowout score would not dent Australia’s confidence for the looming Test series.

“One hundred per cent we can still compete, and win as well,” Donaldson said.

“What we showed in the first half, played some really good footy, a few opportunities that were presented and we just didn’t take them, skill execution, all good defence but yes in the second half definitely they ran away with it, a few too many turnovers and we’re back under the sticks so that’s something that the Wallabies will be looking at.

“The boys are training really hard, under fatigue, trying to get their fitness levels up so no doubt when the Wallabies come up against them they’ll be ready to go.”

Donaldson conceded Australia will remain underdogs for a series win.

“You’d probably think so, you’ve got four of the best nations in the north playing for one team, probably the best team in the world, I don’t know what the odds are but you’d probably think so, but we’re not looking at it like that in Wallabies camp,” Donaldson said.

“We believe we can win, we want to fire shots, we want to take it to them and hopefully with some good prep and a good game against Fiji next week the boys will be ready to go.”

Originally published as Western Force expose Lions weakness that Wallabies and Joseph Suaalii can exploit