Day one of the pre-match engagements before the first Test between the British & Irish Lions and Australia brings an audience with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. Sitting next to him is the hulking Will Skelton but there is no doubt as to who is the Wallabies’ big gun. He cost a pretty penny after all and it is no surprise that Australia wasted little time in wheeling him out to kick-start a series in need of a bit of a sell over here.
He is just 21 – a point hammered home when revealing he was just nine the last time the Lions toured Australia, taking inspiration from a nigh-on unplayable Israel Folau – but he talks with the same assuredness with which he plays. He readily admits that these are the occasions for which he made the move from the NRL to rugby union, and in setting the tone for Australia at the start of the week he fulfilled his role to a tee.
