Latest news with #Suaalii
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Wallabies great heralds arrival of new superstar
Voted by rugby fans as the "biggest hero" of the triumphant 2001 Wallabies side, Joe Roff is tipping Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to be the break-out star of this year's series against the British and Irish Lions. Following the Brumbies' semi-final exit from Super Rugby Pacific, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is set to unveil his first squad of the year in Sydney on Thursday. The squad will prepare for a one-off Test against Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday, July 6 before the Wallabies who will tackle the tourists in Brisbane on July 19 are revealed on July 11. Suaalii has declared himself "fully fit" for the three-Test campaign after fracturing his jaw last month and is a certain selection, with Roff saying the cross-code gun will bring the "X-factor" the Wallabies need to topple the star-studded Lions. In 2001, the Wallabies got off to a slow start against the Lions and were comprehensively outplayed in the opening Test, losing 29-13. But starting on the wing, Roff played a major role in wrestling back the series in game two in Melbourne. Trailing 11-6 at halftime, he intercepted a Jonny Wilkinson pass to score seven minutes into the second half before adding a second as the Wallabies piled on the points to win 35-14. They then clinched the series in Sydney 29-23 with Roff topping a Rugby Australia fan poll with 34 per cent of vote to be declared the "biggest hero". The three-time World Cup ace said he watched Suaalii shine in his Test debut late last year against England and believed he would again perform on the big stage. The pair share similar attributes, playing on the wing or at fullback, both known for their speed and power with ball in hand. "I've been very impressed - he's obviously an incredibly gifted athlete, but he also understands the game, and he reads the game well, and he has the x-factor that you can't coach," three-time World Cup ace Roff told AAP. "He's already proven what a wonderful player he's going to be for the Wallabies and I think this rubs off. "You have to have a psychology of winning and I think this rubs off on the players around him, because they know that he's a guy that can turn a match, do something special and do have that x-factor that can win a Test match. "That will be a great sort of psychological edge for those around him at the same time." A two-time Super title winner with the Brumbies, Roff would like to see a swathe of players from Australia's top-ranked side rewarded with selection. "The Brumbies should absolutely be, that's by virtue of the quality of play that the individuals are bringing to their game at the moment," Roff said. He also felt with just one Test before facing the might of the Lions, there was value in selecting combinations within the side, such as in the halves with Brumbies duo Noah Lolesio and Ryan Lonergan. "I'm an advocate for combinations, rather than splitting them up in key areas of the team," Roff said. "They're very much in the same boat as we were in 2001 in terms of limited preparation and when you think about the Lions, they are already together now, so their combinations will be a lot more settled and prepared than ours will be. "But the coaching team, the players, have known this for the last year or two, and there are already combinations that are in place, that are playing very well so it's going to be smoother to fall into the patterns that Joe Schmidt and the coaching team want. "But it may be the same scenario where the Lions come in as a better prepared despite smashing together a whole lot of different nations." Voted by rugby fans as the "biggest hero" of the triumphant 2001 Wallabies side, Joe Roff is tipping Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to be the break-out star of this year's series against the British and Irish Lions. Following the Brumbies' semi-final exit from Super Rugby Pacific, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is set to unveil his first squad of the year in Sydney on Thursday. The squad will prepare for a one-off Test against Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday, July 6 before the Wallabies who will tackle the tourists in Brisbane on July 19 are revealed on July 11. Suaalii has declared himself "fully fit" for the three-Test campaign after fracturing his jaw last month and is a certain selection, with Roff saying the cross-code gun will bring the "X-factor" the Wallabies need to topple the star-studded Lions. In 2001, the Wallabies got off to a slow start against the Lions and were comprehensively outplayed in the opening Test, losing 29-13. But starting on the wing, Roff played a major role in wrestling back the series in game two in Melbourne. Trailing 11-6 at halftime, he intercepted a Jonny Wilkinson pass to score seven minutes into the second half before adding a second as the Wallabies piled on the points to win 35-14. They then clinched the series in Sydney 29-23 with Roff topping a Rugby Australia fan poll with 34 per cent of vote to be declared the "biggest hero". The three-time World Cup ace said he watched Suaalii shine in his Test debut late last year against England and believed he would again perform on the big stage. The pair share similar attributes, playing on the wing or at fullback, both known for their speed and power with ball in hand. "I've been very impressed - he's obviously an incredibly gifted athlete, but he also understands the game, and he reads the game well, and he has the x-factor that you can't coach," three-time World Cup ace Roff told AAP. "He's already proven what a wonderful player he's going to be for the Wallabies and I think this rubs off. "You have to have a psychology of winning and I think this rubs off on the players around him, because they know that he's a guy that can turn a match, do something special and do have that x-factor that can win a Test match. "That will be a great sort of psychological edge for those around him at the same time." A two-time Super title winner with the Brumbies, Roff would like to see a swathe of players from Australia's top-ranked side rewarded with selection. "The Brumbies should absolutely be, that's by virtue of the quality of play that the individuals are bringing to their game at the moment," Roff said. He also felt with just one Test before facing the might of the Lions, there was value in selecting combinations within the side, such as in the halves with Brumbies duo Noah Lolesio and Ryan Lonergan. "I'm an advocate for combinations, rather than splitting them up in key areas of the team," Roff said. "They're very much in the same boat as we were in 2001 in terms of limited preparation and when you think about the Lions, they are already together now, so their combinations will be a lot more settled and prepared than ours will be. "But the coaching team, the players, have known this for the last year or two, and there are already combinations that are in place, that are playing very well so it's going to be smoother to fall into the patterns that Joe Schmidt and the coaching team want. "But it may be the same scenario where the Lions come in as a better prepared despite smashing together a whole lot of different nations." Voted by rugby fans as the "biggest hero" of the triumphant 2001 Wallabies side, Joe Roff is tipping Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to be the break-out star of this year's series against the British and Irish Lions. Following the Brumbies' semi-final exit from Super Rugby Pacific, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is set to unveil his first squad of the year in Sydney on Thursday. The squad will prepare for a one-off Test against Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday, July 6 before the Wallabies who will tackle the tourists in Brisbane on July 19 are revealed on July 11. Suaalii has declared himself "fully fit" for the three-Test campaign after fracturing his jaw last month and is a certain selection, with Roff saying the cross-code gun will bring the "X-factor" the Wallabies need to topple the star-studded Lions. In 2001, the Wallabies got off to a slow start against the Lions and were comprehensively outplayed in the opening Test, losing 29-13. But starting on the wing, Roff played a major role in wrestling back the series in game two in Melbourne. Trailing 11-6 at halftime, he intercepted a Jonny Wilkinson pass to score seven minutes into the second half before adding a second as the Wallabies piled on the points to win 35-14. They then clinched the series in Sydney 29-23 with Roff topping a Rugby Australia fan poll with 34 per cent of vote to be declared the "biggest hero". The three-time World Cup ace said he watched Suaalii shine in his Test debut late last year against England and believed he would again perform on the big stage. The pair share similar attributes, playing on the wing or at fullback, both known for their speed and power with ball in hand. "I've been very impressed - he's obviously an incredibly gifted athlete, but he also understands the game, and he reads the game well, and he has the x-factor that you can't coach," three-time World Cup ace Roff told AAP. "He's already proven what a wonderful player he's going to be for the Wallabies and I think this rubs off. "You have to have a psychology of winning and I think this rubs off on the players around him, because they know that he's a guy that can turn a match, do something special and do have that x-factor that can win a Test match. "That will be a great sort of psychological edge for those around him at the same time." A two-time Super title winner with the Brumbies, Roff would like to see a swathe of players from Australia's top-ranked side rewarded with selection. "The Brumbies should absolutely be, that's by virtue of the quality of play that the individuals are bringing to their game at the moment," Roff said. He also felt with just one Test before facing the might of the Lions, there was value in selecting combinations within the side, such as in the halves with Brumbies duo Noah Lolesio and Ryan Lonergan. "I'm an advocate for combinations, rather than splitting them up in key areas of the team," Roff said. "They're very much in the same boat as we were in 2001 in terms of limited preparation and when you think about the Lions, they are already together now, so their combinations will be a lot more settled and prepared than ours will be. "But the coaching team, the players, have known this for the last year or two, and there are already combinations that are in place, that are playing very well so it's going to be smoother to fall into the patterns that Joe Schmidt and the coaching team want. "But it may be the same scenario where the Lions come in as a better prepared despite smashing together a whole lot of different nations."
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Wallabies great heralds arrival of new superstar
Voted by rugby fans as the "biggest hero" of the triumphant 2001 Wallabies side, Joe Roff is tipping Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to be the break-out star of this year's series against the British and Irish Lions. Following the Brumbies' semi-final exit from Super Rugby Pacific, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is set to unveil his first squad of the year in Sydney on Thursday. The squad will prepare for a one-off Test against Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday, July 6 before the Wallabies who will tackle the tourists in Brisbane on July 19 are revealed on July 11. Suaalii has declared himself "fully fit" for the three-Test campaign after fracturing his jaw last month and is a certain selection, with Roff saying the cross-code gun will bring the "X-factor" the Wallabies need to topple the star-studded Lions. In 2001, the Wallabies got off to a slow start against the Lions and were comprehensively outplayed in the opening Test, losing 29-13. But starting on the wing, Roff played a major role in wrestling back the series in game two in Melbourne. Trailing 11-6 at halftime, he intercepted a Jonny Wilkinson pass to score seven minutes into the second half before adding a second as the Wallabies piled on the points to win 35-14. They then clinched the series in Sydney 29-23 with Roff topping a Rugby Australia fan poll with 34 per cent of vote to be declared the "biggest hero". The three-time World Cup ace said he watched Suaalii shine in his Test debut late last year against England and believed he would again perform on the big stage. The pair share similar attributes, playing on the wing or at fullback, both known for their speed and power with ball in hand. "I've been very impressed - he's obviously an incredibly gifted athlete, but he also understands the game, and he reads the game well, and he has the x-factor that you can't coach," three-time World Cup ace Roff told AAP. "He's already proven what a wonderful player he's going to be for the Wallabies and I think this rubs off. "You have to have a psychology of winning and I think this rubs off on the players around him, because they know that he's a guy that can turn a match, do something special and do have that x-factor that can win a Test match. "That will be a great sort of psychological edge for those around him at the same time." A two-time Super title winner with the Brumbies, Roff would like to see a swathe of players from Australia's top-ranked side rewarded with selection. "The Brumbies should absolutely be, that's by virtue of the quality of play that the individuals are bringing to their game at the moment," Roff said. He also felt with just one Test before facing the might of the Lions, there was value in selecting combinations within the side, such as in the halves with Brumbies duo Noah Lolesio and Ryan Lonergan. "I'm an advocate for combinations, rather than splitting them up in key areas of the team," Roff said. "They're very much in the same boat as we were in 2001 in terms of limited preparation and when you think about the Lions, they are already together now, so their combinations will be a lot more settled and prepared than ours will be. "But the coaching team, the players, have known this for the last year or two, and there are already combinations that are in place, that are playing very well so it's going to be smoother to fall into the patterns that Joe Schmidt and the coaching team want. "But it may be the same scenario where the Lions come in as a better prepared despite smashing together a whole lot of different nations."
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)
