4 days ago
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii positional switch proposed by ex-Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock
Former Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock says coach Joe Schmidt should consider moving Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii from outside centre to the wing, while calling for a "pick and stick" selection approach.
Suaalii has played in the centres for the Wallabies since making his Test debut against England last November.
He produced arguably his best performance in the number 13 jersey in the Wallabies' 22-12 win over the British and Irish Lions in the third and final Test of their series in Sydney last Saturday night.
Mortlock, who played in the centres and on the wing for the Wallabies, said Suaalii could benefit from a positional switch.
"He's not going to like this," Mortlock said.
"But when I first came through, I ended up having two full seasons on the wing. I didn't like it at all. I hated it.
"I was playing provincial rugby for the Brumbies at 13 but those two seasons on the wing gave me a great opportunity to understand what wingers need from a 13, from a voice and connection and combination-wise.
"Then, probably more importantly, 13 is your spiritual leader in defence, so there's a lot of communication that is required and linking that you do in multi-phase and off set piece.
"So there's a lot of decisions that you have to make and, when you're on the wing, you learn very quickly what you need from that 13 and that helped my development as a 13 massively."
Mortlock said the Wallabies would still be able to utilise Suaalii's skill set should he be moved to the wing.
"You don't lose much if you put him on the wing and, in particular, what you do get is his aerial skills," he said.
"He's unbelievable with the high ball and cross kicks.
"So, I'm not saying Joseph isn't an outside centre but, if he ended up on the wing for a while, it'd also be great because he's got all the attributes to be an amazing world-class 13 [outside centre] for the Wallabies long-term, if he doesn't already have them."
Mortlock said it was no coincidence the Wallabies dominated when coaches, such as Rod Macqueen, used the same tried-and-trusted stars week after week.
A veteran of 80 Tests between 2000 and 2009, Mortlock has grown frustrated with the chopping and changing of Wallabies line-ups, insisting combinations and trust in a back line at international level takes months and sometimes years to build.
"Players can run the same lines but nothing can replace chemistry and connection," he said.
Currently sixth, the Wallabies have slumped to as low as ninth in the world rankings over the past decade.
Mortlock said regular team changes were partly to blame.
"If Joe Schmidt thinks this is his best side then, barring injury, I'd like to see him pick and stick," Mortlock said.
"Teams need at least five to 10 Tests together, minimum, to start to gel. Nothing beats time in the saddle and playing games together.
"Training can help slightly but playing together, going through some hard times together and learning as a group is invaluable and builds up trust and all the things you need at the DNA of a world-class team.
"So this whole notion of rotating players and subbing off players because they need a rest, I just don't get it.
"I would always take a battle-hardened team that may be a little bruised and sore over a fresh team with less combinations."
AAP
