Wales face daunting task of stopping new Wallaby wonderkid Joseph Sua’ali’i – as Warren Gatland’s side aim to avoid unwanted record against resurgent Australia

Rugby

  • Wales have lost their last 10 matches and face Australia this weekend
  • They must find a way of stopping rising star Joseph Sua’ali’i on Sunday

When you’re lurching from one defeat to another and on the verge of becoming statistically the worst team in the country’s history, the last thing you need is the arrival of rugby’s next ‘freak’ superstar in your own backyard. That is the scenario facing Wales.

After a 10th straight Test loss in their autumn opener with Fiji, next up for Warren Gatland’s men is a revived Australia and new Wallaby wonderkid Joseph Sua’ali’i.

The 21-year-old rugby league convert was player of the match in Australia’s shock win over England last Saturday in what, remarkably, was his first professional game of union.

‘I was ready for anything. I want to play,’ Sua’ali’i said after leading England a merry dance with his offloading and aerial ability.

‘It’s the best way of learning. I don’t want to sit and wait. When (Australia head coach) Joe (Schmidt) gave me the nod, it was a very emotional time.

Joseph Sua'ali'i (right) caused England huge problems in Australia's shock win against Steve Borthwick's side on Saturday

Joseph Sua’ali’i (right) caused England huge problems in Australia’s shock win against Steve Borthwick’s side on Saturday

Sua'ali'i is a huge prospect who has only just switched over to rugby union

Sua’ali’i is a huge prospect who has only just switched over to rugby union

Warren Gatland mist figure out a way to stop Sua'ali'i this weekend

Warren Gatland mist figure out a way to stop Sua’ali’i this weekend

‘I was just excited to go. I felt very comfortable. There is a lot of growth in my game. Now, I’m just looking forward to playing against Wales.’

Sua’ali’i declared he was ‘stoked’ with his Test bow. His mega-money arrival from league has revitalised Australian rugby ahead of next summer’s British & Irish Lions series.

‘He’s a freak,’ Wallaby centre Len Ikitau said of his new midfield partner Sua’ali’i. ‘Being able to play next to him and see what he’s able to do is awesome.

‘I’m just expecting more from him now he’s had his first game.’

The prospect of further improvement from Sua’ali’i and Australia is bad news for a Wales side which is struggling badly. Were they to lose to the Wallabies on Sunday, it would extend their run of defeats to 11 which would be the worst in the country’s history.

Gatland will name his team today on Wednesday. He will have to make at least one change after wing Mason Grady was released from the Wales squad to undergo surgery on an ankle injury suffered against Fiji. Rio Dyer of the Dragons is the most likely candidate to come in.

Wales are also sweating on the fitness of key scrum-half Tomos Williams. Gatland’s team announcement press conference is sure to focus on his explanation of how Wales brought on the wrong player when Grady went off in the first half of the Fiji game. 

Gatland admitted it was a mistake that fly-half Sam Costelow entered the field as it should have been Ellis Bevan.

Wales are hoping to avoid an 11th straight defeat which would be the worst losing run in the country's history

Wales are hoping to avoid an 11th straight defeat which would be the worst losing run in the country’s history

Wales fly-half Gareth Anscombe described Sua’ali’i’s performance as ‘seriously impressive.’

Anscombe added of the Wallaby: ‘He made the game look pretty easy. It’s going to be a great challenge. I thought he had a sensational debut. He was dangerous and good in the air.

‘I know the Wallabies are really well coached under Joe and we know what he’s done with Ireland in the past. I expect them to be fully prepared.

‘They’ll be at their best which is a great challenge for us. Rather than talk about the negatives about trying to find a win, we need to look at this as an opportunity to grow.’

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