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Here's why Australia cross-code wildcard Joseph Sua'ali'i will be a huge threat to England, writes SIR CLIVE WOODWARD - I'm convinced he will be more Jason Robinson than Sam Burgess The Wallabies deserve a huge amount of credit for picking Sua'ali'i to start Join Mail+ to get ahead of the game with Rugby Confidential every Wednesday and Chris Foy's World of Rugby every Monday By SIR CLIVE WOODWARD Published: 21:01 EST, 8 November 2024 | Updated: 21:01 EST, 8 November 2024 e-mail View comments When I was England head coach, I moved heaven and earth to sign Jason Robinson. I spent lots of time chatting to Jason to try to convince him to cross codes from league to union because I knew the difference he could make to my team. Ultimately, I was so glad I did because he made a huge, huge impact.
What's funny though is that the first time I saw Jason train, the reason I was actually there was to see Andy Farrell! I didn't manage to convince Farrell to come to the 15-a-side game - even though he did move across eventually - and I also failed in trying to sign Kevin Sinfield from Leeds Rhinos. But in Jason, there was a player who proved it is possible to be a cross-code success. Jason lit up English rugby union with his pace and footwork.
Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i's first professional rugby union game will be his debut against England Jason Robinson and Sam Burgess had differing experiences moving from league to union Joe Schmidt has made the punch call in choosing to start Sua'ali'i at Twickenham on Saturday I was reminded of him this week, after Australia selected Joseph Sua'ali'i to start against England on Saturday. Sua'ali'i is just 21. Remarkably, he has never played a game of professional rugby union, so his first will come on his Test debut.
It is simply an astonishing story, I think it's fantastic. Professional sport needs stories like this. The start of England's autumn campaign has felt quite negative with a row over the Haka and then Danny Care's book revelations on the Eddie Jones regime, plus the defeat by New Zealand.
In Sua'ali'i, rugby has a great tale to tell. His selection has added a huge sense of intrigue to England's second November Test and for that, I think the Wallabies deserve a huge amount of credit. Well done Joe Schmidt, the Australia head coach, for making such a punchy call because it would have been far easier to leave him out altogether or put him on the bench.
There is no doubt Sua'ali'i is the real deal. He wouldn't be playing this weekend if not. Australia - led by their former coach Jones - splashed the cash to sign Sua'ali'i from rugby league and I really, really hope he is a success.
Everyone expects England to win. Indeed, every game for England should be a must win. However, the Australia match certainly falls into that category on the back of what was a disappointing loss to the All Blacks.
For Australia, it's very different. They really have nothing to lose, which is why I think the selection of Sua'ali'i is so inspired. Burgess never quite made the grade as England and the RFU could never get his position right Sua'ali'i starts at outside centre and will get his hands on the ball more than on the wing There is no pressure on Sua'ali'i which makes Australia dangerous opposition for England SIR CLIVE'S THREE KEY CLASHES Ellis Genge v Taniela Tupou This is a clash between two powerhouse props.
Australia tighthead Tupou is nicknamed the Tongan Thor because of his Pacific Island background. He has had injuries, but is a mountain of a man. Genge will have his work cut out.
England’s scrum went well against New Zealand with the starting props on, but wilted when the replacements were introduced. They need to work hard on that area. Chandler Cunningham-South v Rob Valetini You won’t miss these two blindside flankers going head-to-head, primarily because of their haircuts.
I was impressed by Cunningham-South last week. He put in one monster tackle which really seemed to gee him up and from there he was excellent, physical and shouldn’t have been taken off. Valetini has played No 8 before, but Australia’s captain Harry Wilson is there now so he switches to blindside flanker.
Ollie Lawrence v Joseph Sua’ali’i It is a huge call for Australia to pick Sua’ali’i, given the game will be his first professional match in rugby union. But I’m massively excited by his selection. The Wallabies can go for broke with not much expected of them.
And I can’t wait to see Sua’ali’i play. Lawrence is at outside centre, not inside as he was against New Zealand. England have to get more out of him as an attacking force to be successful.
Advertisement Personally, I've never believed in targeting individual players, so I don't think that's something England should do with Sua'ali'i despite his huge inexperience. Sua'ali'i played union growing up, so he does have knowledge of the game to go with his undoubted quality. Make no mistake, there is absolutely no way such a canny operator as Schmidt would have selected him if he wasn't up to the standard required.
I read in these pages earlier this week a comparison between Sua'ali'i and Sam Burgess, who moved from rugby league to union in England but never quite made the grade. I think there's a big, big difference between the two. England and the RFU could never get Burgess' position right.
They couldn't decide if he was a flanker or a centre. In the end, he was involved in England's disastrous 2015 World Cup campaign on home soil as a midfielder, but we didn't see him again after that. That was a shame because Burgess undoubtedly had talent.
But the difference between him and Sua'ali'i is that the latter is undoubtedly an outside back. Sua'ali'i starts at outside centre against England, a very difficult position to defend at international level, perhaps the most difficult. But in attack, it also gives him a chance to get his hands on the ball more than if he was starting on the wing.
That will help him. There isn't really any pressure on Sua'ali'i which I think makes Australia dangerous opposition for England. There's no doubt that Australia have gone missing in recent times.
Rugby union has lost ground in their country behind cricket, rugby league, Aussie Rules, and now football. The sport there faces something of an identity crisis. They have the talent, of that there is no doubt, and I am encouraged by the number of players-turned-administrators from the classes of 1999 and 2003 who care deeply about the game.
At their best Australia, epitomise fast, running rugby and are artists of timing. All that is combined with a grit, competitiveness, and no small about of chat! I really hope Schmidt can rediscover Australian rugby's identity and make the country fall in love with union again. The global game needs a strong Australia.
I think they will improve markedly ahead of next summer's series with the British and Irish Lions. In Sua'ali'i, they have played their wildcard. England will have to be on their mettle.
Steve Borthwick has swapped centres Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade against Australia Borthwick has kept faith with the same team from the All Blacks for the match with Australia Read More Meet the new Sam Burgess who will face England this week despite last playing rugby union at school Steve Borthwick has swapped his centres around for Australia, but I don't think that makes much of a difference to the team. If I were Borthwick, I'd have named Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence in the same positions as they started against New Zealand and surprised Australia on the day. There was no need for England to lay out their cards so early.
However, it really shouldn't make a difference to the result. I'm pleased Borthwick kept faith with the same team from the All Blacks, as England should have won that game. I hope that anger and frustration will drive them against Australia.
I'll predict England to win, but I don't think it will be straightforward. I expect Sua'ali'i to lead Australia in a tight game and for his team-mates to follow his lead. It should be some game.
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