Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has backed debutant Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to handle Test Rugby after naming the recruit to start against England.
Two months after finishing up in Rugby League, Suaalii will start at outside centre for Sunday's (AEDT) clash with the English at Allianz Stadium.
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The 21-year-old follows in the footsteps of Matt Giteau and Tatafu Polota-Nau to debut for the Wallabies before playing Super Rugby.
Both racked up over 90 Tests for the Wallabies after debuting at the same ground Suaalii will make his Rugby return in 2002 and 2006 respectively.
Schmidt is hopeful for a similar story with Suaalii as the coach spent the majority of his 18-minute press conference answering questions about the 17th Wallabies debutant in 2024.
"We just thought particularly with Hunter Paisani picking up an injury and Samu Kerevi coming in late that it was the best combination for us and a really good opportunity," Schmidt told reporters.
"I think when a player starts they get a little bit more training time with the team so getting those reps with the team I think is an advantage when you're trying to slot someone in for the first time."
Suaalii last pulled on a gold jersey in 2019 for Australia Schools and Under 18s against New Zealand Schools, guiding them to victory.
Schmidt acknowledged the risk that comes with throwing Suaalii onto centre stage so early in his career.
"Everything's a risk. The thing that I would have confidence around Joseph is how well he prepares himself," he explained.
"He's a very professional young man. He's had plenty of experience both playing rugby union and being professional as well with rugby league in the past and coming back to rugby union so those things give us confidence and give Joseph confidence that hopefully, he can hit the ground running in a couple of days' time.
"He's meticulous with his planning before he even gets to his preparation. He makes sure that he ticks all the boxes and asks a lot of questions...He played a lot of rugby, obviously, in school, through the pathway of Australian under-18s and he knows a number of the players through those teams as well."
This alleviated any concerns in Schmidt's mind and was confident the backline around him, including shifting Len Ikitau to inside centre, will help him adjust perfectly to Test Rugby.
"Everything's a risk, but I would challenge that with everything's an opportunity. It's a fantastic opportunity for a young man who's really excited about getting the chance (to debut)," he added.
"There's four test matches left this year before we embark on a massive Lions tour next year. So if not now, when?
"...I think Joseph is our 17th or 18th debutant this year so, it's not a new situation for us to have a debutant. In fact, it's the most common situation that we've had this year.
"In an effort to build depth and an effort to stabilise the group that we have, we see it as an opportunity more than as a risk and he's been excellent, which gives us confidence not to wait another week or two or even next year."
