Former Wallabies head coach Ewen McKenzie has questioned the kicking and passing of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, suggesting the cross-code star’s future with Australia could be as an impact replacement covering several positions.
McKenzie was speaking on the Rugby Unity podcast with host David Pembroke, in an episode recorded before the Wallabies side to face Scotland was named for round five of the Nations Championship.
A listener had raised criticism of Suaalii from former England wing Chris Ashton, which Pembroke summarised as a claim that the former rugby league player is not of Test standard and lacks the technical rugby skills.
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‘Not a great kicker’
McKenzie would not go as far as Ashton, but said the way Suaalii has been picked since he switched codes pointed to gaps in his game.
“I can tell he’s got some really good attributes,” he said. “The question is whether they’re best used at 12, 13, wing, whatever.
“All I can say is that, look at the coaches [who] have had him under their wings. They’ve left him at 13 the whole time. They never put him at fullback.
“So that tells me he’s probably not a great kicker. And I don’t think he’s a great passer per se.”
He was more positive about other parts of Suaalii’s game.
“There’s skill sets there which other guys have had,” McKenzie added. “[The] aerial skills are there. They’re trying to play to that. So you’ve got to play the player’s strengths.”
‘The central question’
McKenzie said Suaalii had been moved to the wing by head coach Les Kiss, and expected him back in the centres against Scotland because of injuries.
“Les obviously thought that he should be on the wing and he went on the wing and now he’s back in the centres,” he explained.
The former Wallabies boss said the question for Kiss was whether that move was forced by injury, “or is he back on the centres because he was no good on the wing”.
“That’s the central question,” he added.
McKenzie stressed that he was judging only from matches and had not seen Suaalii train.
“I can’t form an opinion other than what I can see on the field, and they’re moving him around, so they’re still trying to find the best position for him,” he said.
The Pollock example
Earlier in the show the pair had discussed Eddie Jones‘ view that centres now play like back-rowers. McKenzie returned to it as the programme was closing, pointing to England back-rower Henry Pollock, who has been used on the wing, and Springboks centre André Esterhuizen, who also covers the back row.
“Maybe there’s other ways that he could be the best impact player Australia’s got,” he said. “He could … come in multiple positions and just play what’s in front of him.
“They sent Pollock out and he played on the wing … And that’s what Rassie’s doing with Esterhuizen. He’s putting him out in different positions.
“Maybe that’s the future for him. He’s going to be a utility player that just comes out, because what he is, he’s a genuine athlete. He is tough and he can get [over] the advantage [line].
“He’s tall and so he’s hard to handle. So there might be another way of playing him that’s a bit more left field.”
Kiss has since named Suaalii at outside centre for the Murrayfield Test in place of the injured Isaac Henry, with Harry Potter on the left wing.
Australia face Scotland on Sunday 15 November, a week after their 45-22 defeat to England at Twickenham.
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