Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i Suaalii during the Quilter Nations Series rugby union match France VS Australia (Wallabies) at Stade de France on November 22, 2025 in Paris, France. Photo Victor Joly / DPPI (Photo by Victor Joly / Victor Joly / DPPI via AFP
PERTH - Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will start on the wing for the first time as coach Les Kiss made a bold selection on Friday ahead of Australia's clash against South Africa in Perth.
The 23-year-old will line up in a back-three alongside Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright in the one-off Test on Sunday at Optus Stadium.
Suaalii was preferred over Harry Potter in an intriguing move by Kiss with the rugby league convert having made all his starts for the Wallabies at outside centre.
"Nothing but positive," Kiss said of Suaalii's reaction to the news.
"I didn't even have to explain some of the rationale around it or the reasons why we went that way.
"He was up for it, no doubt."
Ben Donaldson will replace first-choice flyhalf Carter Gordon, who fractured his leg in Australia's recent Test in Argentina.
Front-rowers Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Allan Alaalatoa are the lone changes to the pack.
The Wallabies named six forwards on the bench in a bid to combat the Springboks' powerful reserves list.
It has left the home side seemingly exposed, with a notable lack of experienced playmaking options on the bench.
"It is a question that we went through as a coaching group," Kiss said.
"We've prepared the team to make sure we've got the coverage."
The Wallabies face the daunting prospect of taking on the world number one ranked South Africa.
But the visitors will field a new-look lineup after making 13 changes from their Test win over the All Blacks earlier this month in Baltimore.
Australia have made a promising start under the leadership of Kiss, who replaced Joe Schmidt in July.
The Wallabies beat Japan twice and then secured a win and a draw in Argentina.
But South Africa, whose squad still brims with class and experience, represents the biggest test of Kiss' fledgling reign.
"We expect nothing but a massive, massive Test against them," Kiss said.
"The boys have not lowered anything in terms of their expectation of themselves to actually get better every day."
South Africa have won five of the last six Test matches against Australia.
Australia (15-1)
Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii; Ben Donaldson, Ryan Lonergan; Harry Wilson (capt), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini; Jeremy Williams, Josh Canham; Allan Alaalatoa, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell
Replacements: Billy Pollard, Aidan Ross, Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Harry Potter
- AFP