Latest news with #JosephSuaalii
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wallabies sharpening skills ahead of Lions and Fiji
With 12 months of the Joe Schmidt reign behind them the Wallabies have launched straight into "re-sharpening the sword" for the British and Irish Lions. The Wallabies gathered in Sydney on Monday for their first training session ahead of three-Test Lions series which begins next month, and fullback Tom Wright said they hit the ground running. "This morning was less about trying to push over a fresh load of information and plays and structures onto everyone's plate, and more about a refresher, and getting everyone back into language and lingo, and then everyone just sort of hitting the ground running," the Brumbies gun said. "Last year it was a lot of trying to digest and absorb stuff but today it was just re-sharpening the sword, and it was exciting to see that translate as opposed to just picking it up fresh last year." With 37 Tests under his belt, Wright had a breakout campaign for the Wallabies on last year's spring tour, scoring a hat-trick against Wales as well as racking up major carry metres and clean breaks. But with superstar league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii able to play just about anywhere in the backline, including fullback, Wright knows there's competition for the No.15 jersey - and welcomes it. "He goes pretty well anytime he's on the field," Wright said of Suaalii, who was man of the match in his Test debut against England in November. "His talent is probably second to none in the group, and you pair that with his work ethic that he's got, it's really impressive, and he gets the most out of all of us as his teammates. "It was good to see competition for spots heat up today at training, so that's the luxury that the coaching staff have. There's going to be guys that miss out." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wallabies (@wallabies) While the touring Lions are the primary goal, the initial focus for the Australians is their Test against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6. It's the first time the teams have squared off since Fiji shocked the Wallabies at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, breaking a 69-year drought. The Fiji win helped send the Australians crashing out of the tournament at the pool stage. Wright, who was a shock omission from the World Cup by then coach Eddie Jones, said the Wallabies couldn't afford to look past the Fijians, who have included 15 northern hemisphere-based players in a threatening squad. "Obviously we get a taste of the Fijians with the Drua throughout the (Super Rugby) season so we know how lethal they'll be, with and without the ball, and then you drip in some of the guys from Europe obviously, some of the most talented players in the world. "We've got our eyes set on Newcastle and that being a really important fixture to leap-frog into what is obviously a strong Lions side in July too." The Lions have arrived in Perth ahead of their clash with the Western Force and will be licking their wounds after falling to Argentina in their warm-up Test. But Wright said both teams played "exciting footy" and the Wallabies couldn't read much into the result. "The Argentinians were really good and I wouldn't say the Lions played really poorly," the 27-year-old said. "That's a bunch of guys trying to come together for the first time really. I wouldn't read heaps into it."
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'I'll be fully fit' - Suaalii relishing Lions arrival
Australia's big-money backline signing Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii says he will be ready to face the British and Irish Lions this summer, despite jaw surgery that made it so hard to eat he lost 5kg in 21-year-old was recruited from rugby league side Sydney Roosters on a three-year-deal worth a reported A$5.35m (£2.6m) and made his professional union debut in the Wallabies' win over England in he fractured his jaw in a collision with Waratahs' team-mate Andrew Kellaway in May, raising fears he could be out of contention for the Lions series."Yeah, I'll be fully fit for the Lions," said Suaalii, assessing himself as "97%" of the way back already."I was a little bit worried [that I might miss the Lions tour]. "It's such an important time for myself and Australian rugby and I want to be playing, so obviously I was a little bit of a nerves. But I had surgery maybe three weeks ago now and looking good going into the Lions."Suaalii said he had worn a face mask to hide his swollen face after his operation and his weight dipped as he struggled to eat."I've put it all back on now," he added. "I've been eating heaps thanks to my mum and I've had my family around me to help me stay on track." 'I am ready to go against anyone' Suaalii refused to stoke the personal duel that has emerged between him and Scotland centre Sione hit Tuipulotu with a big tackle in the first half of the Wallabies' defeat at Murrayfield in the autumn, sparking an exchange of who suffered a wrist injury in their collision, was heard to say, apparently to Tuipulotu, that he would "see you next time" as he left the field."Not really to be honest," he said, when asked if such personal battles fuel him."I am really just focused on what I can bring best for the team, but anyone in the Lions I am ready to go against them."After initially crossing codes, Suaalii played at outside centre, but his most recent outings for the Waratahs have been at full-back, where he was named in the Super Rugby Pacific team of 2025."It makes you a better rugby player, seeing the game from a different perspective always helps you," he added. "I am very confident in playing wing, centre and full-back."Suaalii is targeting a return to action in the Wallabies warm-up Test against Fiji on 6 July. The Tests against the Lions take place on 19 and 26 July and 2 August, kicking off at 11:00 BST.
RTÉ News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Australia's Joseph Suaalii fit to face the Lions after broken jaw
Wallabies back Joseph Suaalii said he would be fit to face the British and Irish Lions in July and August after a month-long layoff with a broken jaw. The high profile signing from rugby league has had a disrupted first season in Super Rugby Pacific with injuries severely limiting his time on the pitch. "My face was really big for a bit, I was wearing a face mask everywhere," he told reporters after meeting some real lions at Sydney's Taronga Zoo on Wednesday. "I'll be fully fit. Obviously, had a toe injury, then my jaw and concussion as well. But you know, it's all part of the game. "It's such an important time for myself and Australian rugby and I want to be playing, so obviously I was a little bit of a nerves but ... I had surgery maybe three weeks ago now and looking good going into the Lions." Suaalii said he had lost nearly five kilograms due to the difficulties of eating with a broken jaw but had put it all back on again since. "I've been eating heaps," he said. "Thanks to my mum and my family around me to help me stay on track." The knee of his Wallabies team-mate Andrew Kellaway's was the inadvertent cause of the broken jaw and the winger feared at one stage that he might be remembered as the man who ended Suaalii's chances of facing the Lions. "Nobody wants to crash the Ferrari, that's not what anyone wants," Kellaway joked. "He looks alright, he's doing a lot of talking, which is a good sign." Suaalii said he felt he had played enough rugby to compete at the highest level against the Lions, adding that he would be comfortable playing at full-back, on the wing or in the centres. Australia's one warm-up test against Fiji in Newcastle on 6 July was definitely on his radar, Suaalii said, and he could not wait to tangle with the tourists. "These are the biggest games of my life, I believe," he said. "Some people play it once in your career, and it happens every 12 years." The Lions play Argentina in Dublin next week before heading to Australia for seven tour matches and the three-Test series in late July and early August. Australia boss Joe Schmidt (above) said he knew from his time as Ireland coach just how special the Lions jersey was to the players who wore it and warned the Wallabies would really need to roll their sleeves up to be ready for the tests. "They can play in so many different ways," he said of the tourists. "They can be really physical, they can be square and coming at you. They can get you on the edges. "They have got the likes of Tommy Freeman and Hugo Keenan, who are so good in the air that you're going to have to be good there. "We can just try to work as hard as we can, to be as well prepared to understand the threats they're going to bring, and be ready to combat them and also to try to put our stamp on the game a little bit, and take the initiative when we can."
Straits Times
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Australia's Suaalii fit to face the Lions after broken jaw
SYDNEY - Wallabies back Joseph Suaalii said he would be fit to face the British & Irish Lions in July and August after a month-long layoff with a broken jaw. The high profile signing from rugby league has had a disrupted first season in Super Rugby Pacific with injuries severely limiting his time on the pitch. "My face was really big for a bit, I was wearing a face mask everywhere," he told reporters after meeting some real lions at Sydney's Taronga Zoo on Wednesday. "I'll be fully fit. Obviously, had a toe injury, then my jaw and concussion as well. But you know, it's all part of the game. "It's such an important time for myself and Australian rugby and I want to be playing, so obviously I was a little bit of a nerves but ... I had surgery maybe three weeks ago now and looking good going into the Lions." Suaalii said he had lost nearly five kilograms due to the difficulties of eating with a broken jaw but had put it all back on again since. "I've been eating heaps," he said. "Thanks to my mum and my family around me to help me stay on track." The knee of his Wallabies teammate Andrew Kellaway's was the inadvertent cause of the broken jaw and the winger feared at one stage that he might be remembered as the man who ended Suaalii's chances of facing the Lions. "Nobody wants to crash the Ferrari, that's not what anyone wants," Kellaway joked. "He looks alright, he's doing a lot of talking, which is a good sign." Suaalii said he felt he had played enough rugby to compete at the highest level against the Lions, adding that he would be comfortable playing at fullback, on the wing or in the centres. Australia's one warm-up test against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6 was definitely on his radar, Suaalii said, and he could not wait to tangle with the tourists. "These are the biggest games of my life, I believe," he said. "Some people play it once in your career, and it happens every 12 years." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-Australia's Suaalii fit to face the Lions after broken jaw
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn Internationals - Scotland v Australia - Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain - November 24, 2024 Australia's Joseph Suaalii arrives before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/File Photo SYDNEY (Reuters) -Wallabies back Joseph Suaalii said he would be fit to face the British & Irish Lions in July and August after a month-long layoff with a broken jaw. The high profile signing from rugby league has had a disrupted first season in Super Rugby Pacific with injuries severely limiting his time on the pitch. "My face was really big for a bit, I was wearing a face mask everywhere," he told reporters after meeting some real lions at Sydney's Taronga Zoo on Wednesday. "I'll be fully fit. Obviously, had a toe injury, then my jaw and concussion as well. But you know, it's all part of the game. "It's such an important time for myself and Australian rugby and I want to be playing, so obviously I was a little bit of a nerves but ... I had surgery maybe three weeks ago now and looking good going into the Lions." Suaalii said he had lost nearly five kilograms due to the difficulties of eating with a broken jaw but had put it all back on again since. "I've been eating heaps," he said. "Thanks to my mum and my family around me to help me stay on track." The knee of his Wallabies teammate Andrew Kellaway's was the inadvertent cause of the broken jaw and the winger feared at one stage that he might be remembered as the man who ended Suaalii's chances of facing the Lions. "Nobody wants to crash the Ferrari, that's not what anyone wants," Kellaway joked. "He looks alright, he's doing a lot of talking, which is a good sign." Suaalii said he felt he had played enough rugby to compete at the highest level against the Lions, adding that he would be comfortable playing at fullback, on the wing or in the centres. Australia's one warm-up test against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6 was definitely on his radar, Suaalii said, and he could not wait to tangle with the tourists. "These are the biggest games of my life, I believe," he said. "Some people play it once in your career, and it happens every 12 years." (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Christian Schmollinger)
