Wallabies’ coach Joe Schmidt has a big decision to make on Suaalii’s position

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt must make several decisions before the series against the British and Irish Lions, with the key one being where to play league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, writes JULIAN LINDEN.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in action for the Waratahs. Photo: Getty Images.

When Wallabies’ coach Joe Schmidt sits down to finalise his starting line-up for the upcoming series against the British and Irish Lions, the most important decision he will have to make is which position Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will play.

It is the $5 million dilemma that just won’t go away, with armchair critics still divided over whether rugby’s newest superstar should remain in the midfield or switch to fullback.

Schmidt selected the NRL convert at outside centre for last season’s Spring Tour of Europe even though he made it clear one of the reasons he left the Roosters was so he could play fullback.

His call was vindicated by the team’s improved results and Suaalii’s own stunning displays as he turned in a man of the match performance on debut in the Wallabies’ last-gasp win over England at Twickenham.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was chosen at outside centre for his Wallabies Test debut against England

But that was last year and things are starting to ramp up with the start of the Lions series only three months away.

The Waratahs’ coach Dan McKellar has been playing Suaalii at fullback, which has also been shown to be a wise decision because he’s been carving up the opposition in Super Rugby.

A naturally gifted athlete, Suaalii clearly has all the physical attributes and smarts to play a variety of different positions but fullback does seem to be his best spot because it offers him more freedom.

His performance in NSW’s surprise win over the Chiefs on Friday was further evidence of that.

Not only did he score a freakish try, but he had the New Zealand defenders at sixes and sevens every time he touched the ball because he was able to chime in and attack from different parts of the field.

As well as being a potent attacker, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii also has a great kicking game

While his silky running and passing game drew all the gasps from the Allianz Stadium crowd, his catching under the high ball and his kicking out of hand from the back was also world class.

That should be giving Schmidt cause to ponder a rethink because it is a skillset that is going to be needed against the Lions.

In theory, choosing his most dangerous attacking weapon at fullback should be one of the easiest calls he has to make because history shows there’s no point in waiting.

Israel Folau, who Suaalii is often compared with, began his career on the wing against the Lions 12 years ago. It was only after the Wallabies lost the series and he hardly touched the ball that Folau was moved to fullback, where he became an even more potent force.

Before switching to fullback, Israel Folau started his Wallabies career on the wing in the 2013 British & Irish Lions series

With only one warm-up match against Fiji before the Lions series, Schmidt does not have the luxury of time on his side so will have to take a risk, one way or the other.

The expectation is he will stick with the same players in the same positions he used on last year’s Spring Tour because the risk of moving Suaalii is that could unsettle the balance of the team.

Tom Wright did a sterling job at fullback last year so deserves to keep his spot.

With the Wallabies blessed with so many good wingers, including Andrew Kellaway, Max Jorgensen and Dylan Pietsch, either Wright or one of the other outside backs would miss out if Suaalii was picked in the number 15 jersey.

Then there’s the problem of who would replace Suaalii at outside centre because there’s no standout solution.

The reliable Len Ikitau is the best choice because he never lets the team down but he doesn’t have the X-factor Suaalii has.

But nobody else in the Wallabies does either, which is why Rugby Australia splashed out a King’s ransom for his signature.

Joe Schmidt has some tough decisions to make.

The only sure thing is that Schmidt won’t be telling anyone about his plans in a hurry.

The former Kiwi schoolteacher rarely communicates with the Australian rugby-loving public because of his dislike of the media.

That’s a shame because Schmidt is one of the few New Zealanders who genuinely wants to see Australian rugby succeed so is prepared to put his shoulder to the wheel for the greater cause.

While the team’s 46 per cent win rate under his watch is nothing to rave about, Schmidt has succeeded in restoring some faith in the direction the Wallabies are heading in after the disastrous 2023 World Cup campaign under Eddie Jones.

The hope now is that he makes the right calls for the Lions series.