Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will start on the wing for the Wallabies against South Africa in Perth on Sunday, a first for the former NRL star under coach Les Kiss. The match, played a year before the home World Cup kicks off at the same venue, is also Kiss's first against a traditional rugby power as Wallabies coach.
Kiss's selection gamble
Kiss, whose first coaching opportunity in union came in South Africa more than two decades ago, has made notable selection calls. Suaalii, who has carried heavy expectations for two years, moves from outside centre to wing partly to counter the Springboks' aerial bombardment. "[Suaalii's] aerial battle is going to be big," Kiss said. "He's probably one of the best in the business."
Kiss also cited Len Ikitau's ability to play both centre positions and Hunter Paisami's versatility and form as factors enabling the move. Suaalii, 23, with 24 Wallabies appearances, has had modest impact at outside centre, leading to calls for a change. He recently told the Guardian he kept an "open mindset" about his position, and Kiss said the player was "nothing but positive" when informed of the switch.
Bench packed with forwards
Kiss's most notable selection is a bench with six forwards, one more than the traditional 5-3 split, designed to counter the Springboks' finishing group, which includes the front row that started the last two Tests against the All Blacks. "You look at what they're finishing with and you can see the idea that Rassie [Erasmus, South Africa's coach] has come in with. But we've got a pretty good bench too," Kiss said.
The Springboks have made 13 changes from the side that beat New Zealand 43-28 in Baltimore two weeks ago, securing the series 3-1. Flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit and centre Damian de Allende have flown home, while Siya Kolisi, Jesse Kriel and Thomas du Toit are left out of the 23. Only lock Eben Etzebeth and winger Ethan Hooker retain their starting places.
Depth on display
Rather than expose weakness, the unorthodox selection showcases the world champions' depth. Starting props Zachary Porthen, 22, and Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 25, were benched for the first Test against the All Blacks but did not play again in the series. Handrè Pollard returns at flyhalf after missing the past three Tests, and André Esterhuizen will captain the Springboks for the first time.
Erasmus said he will use the clash to test squad depth. "We rolled the dice a little bit against the All Blacks by [selecting] consistently the same team," he said. "We obviously were getting some momentum as [the series went] on longer, but if we keep on doing that, how would we know when we get to the Nations Championship at the end of the year, or at the World Cup next year, what can the next guy do?"
Kiss described Erasmus as a "deep thinker" and a "good mate" who will "have a few things up his sleeve, that's for sure". Kiss's first experience of elite rugby union was with the Springboks as defence coach when Erasmus was still playing. "I learnt rugby through the eyes of Springboks," Kiss said. "That's just the plain truth of it all. I loved the Wallabies, I saw the way we play, the skilful nature of our game, the way that we would use the ball on the back of [John] Eales and co taking that forward pack forward. So I knew the game, I understood the tenets of the game and how it worked, but when you're on the ground and you learn the game through the eyes of the Springboks, it was a powerful way to learn first up. I often say it was a gift, to learn rugby through their eyes."
