He is a selection dilemma Wallabies coach, Joe Schmidt, he must surely welcome him.
Where will Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii play when the Wallabies chocen with the British and Irish lions at the end of this year?
Schmidt began Suaalii outside the center in three of the Wallabies tests on the spring tour last year while looking to relieve the 21 -year -old in the professional rugby after four seasons in the NRL.
Suaalii played fullback for the waratahs against the highlanders in the first round of Super Rugby Pacific, but later spent more than a month out of the question of an injury to the feet.
When Suaalii returned against hurricanes in Ronda Seven, he was selected in the external center, but Max Jorgensen’s Sondesmosis injury saw him change to fullback.
Suaalii made his debut in the test against England last November. (Getty Images: David Rogers)
Despite the waratahs fading in defeat 45-28 away against Moana Pasifika in the next round, Suaalii was outstanding, since he was again in the victory of the elimination of Friday night against the Chiefs in Sydney.
His first half attempt in the 21-14 victory showed his ability to manipulate space and incredible physical strength that he possesses, as all the black Damian McKenzie can attend after being discarded when the international dual went to the line.
The Suaalii work rate in attack and defense is remarkable and is adopting the same approach as ‘traveling commission’ that Jordan uses for the leaders in the competition.
Schmidt has not made public statements about how his team will see against the lions, but Suaalii is building a convincing case to wear the 15 -15 -shirt.
However, headline Tom Wright has been a solid artist for Act Brumbies this season, and its consistent form for Wallabies in 2024 should be considered when selectors name their team.
For now, there are seven rounds in the regular Super Rugby Pacific season before the Waratah and Brumbies potentially willing the finals, giving Suaalii and Wright a wide opportunity to sell their products.
Waratahs returns to winning forms
The return of the Waratahs to the form was appropriate, since a defeat would have seen them to a record of 4-4 loss victories.
Hitting the chiefs meant that the Waatah retains their place within the first six and maintain the fifth place before the 10 round.
Some will argue that this stage of the season is too early to qualify the actions of the players when it comes to the selection of tests.
But the fact that the four Australian teams are among the top six means that no Wallabies candidate can afford the rivals before the Lions series.
The number eight of Langi Gleeson was one of the best of the Waratah against the bosses and the end Andrew Kellaway showed his younger classmates the value of his experience.
Kellaway was fundamental in the remarkable attempt of Waratahs field in the early second half, straightening the attack when the play was still within 22, before downloading the ball to Suaalii.
Then he remained in support to launch the final pass to Teddy Wilson, who froze the five points under the posts.
Valetini shooting in all cylinders
If there were only concerns about the aptitude of Rob Valetini since they returned from an injury to the hamstrings, they surely relieved for their performance in the 39-26 victory of the brumbies over the Queensland reds on Saturday night.
Valetini lost the first five rounds of Super Rugby Pacific and the Brumbies had wisely achieved their minutes of play since he made his debut in the season against the Waratahs last month.
In Brisbane, Valetini, starting at Blindside Flanker, was in his best devastating attack in attack, colliding with an unfortunate Tim Ryan from a short distance to score the opening attempt of the brumbies.
He ran into the possible Zane Nongoror tacle with another of his haules, physically affirming in the game.
Rob Valetini, in the photo playing against the Waratahs last month, is reaching the maximum form for the Brumbies. (AAP: Dean Lewins)
Valetini also put his hand in defense and his presence on both sides of the ball was a long way to the Brumbies registering a richly deserved victory and advancing to third place on the stairs.
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham would have loved to have Valetini available at the beginning of the competition, but from the perspective of a Wallabies, his injury may have been a disguised blessing.
The Wallabies 2024 test program did not end until the end of November and the additional time on the sidelines seems to have left Valetini refreshed in the Lions series.
Wilson forced to catch up
The absence of Wallabies Harry Wilson’s captain due to a fractured arm was notable in the loss of the reds against the Brumbies, and the hosts lost their leadership in the field.
Tate McDermott can have the ‘C’ next to his name for the reds, but Wilson’s presence gives them a massive impulse, as he demonstrated when he led with the example in the 29-23 victory over the highlanders in Dunedin in the sixth round.
Harry Wilson is not expected to return from an injury to the last stages of the Super Rugby Pacific season. (AAP: Dave Hunt)
Wilson is ready to be left aside for six weeks, which means that it is likely to return to the two final rounds of the regular season.
The Reds of the fourth place are not certainty to make the final, since the consecutive losses for the Chiefs and Brumbies have put an error in their campaign after leading the competition a few weeks ago.
Every time Wilson returns, Schmidt will closely monitor his game fitness, although he has time under his sleeve with the Wallabies who do not reach the field until July 6 when they face Fiji in Newcastle.
Hooper in the radar of the selectors
If Wilson is fully adjusted at the time of the first test against the lions on July 19 in Brisbane, it is difficult to see the Wallabies selectors changing the formation of the rear row that ended in 2024.
Wilson and Valetini (in Blindside Flanker) were part of a formidable trio next to the Openside Fraser McReight flank when the Wallabies went down to Ireland 22-19 in Dublin in the final test of their spring tour.
But if Wilson’s shape was subject to scrutiny once he returned to the field, or if there is a recurrence of his arm injury, Wallabies selectors can choose to use Valetini or Gleeson in number eight against the lions.
This could mean that Tom Hooper’s tastes are considered in Blindside Flanker.
When Hooper signed with Exeter Chiefs for the 2025/26 season of the Premier League in English, it seemed that his hopes of playing the Lions series vanished.
Tom Hooper has been in excellent touch for the brumbies. (AAP: Photosport)
But the statement of the executive president of Rugby Australia, Phil Waugh, the Wallabies will put their “best possible team in the field” opened the door to Hooper and Gleeson, who will also go on the high seas at the end of this year.
Hooper, who made his debut in the test in 2023, has been in excellent way for the brumbies this season, sharing his time between the blind flank and the blockade.
It was fundamental in the victory of the Brumbies 21–20 over the blues in the fourth round, winning three ball losses, completing 19 cup and making a maximum of 20 carry in Eden Park.
His ability to play hard on the ball in the breakdown was illustrated again in Brisbane last Saturday night, while it was also the main objective of the brumbies against the reds, after having played at the closing of the local derby.
At least, Hooper would add utility value from the bank against the lions if Wilson avoids any complication with his return from an injury.
