Playing your first senior game of professional rugby union as a 21-year-old in front of 82,000 spectators at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium might have been an overwhelming occasion.
But Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii did not just survive, he thrived, winning the man of the match award in the visitors’ last-gasp victory over England.
Astonishingly, it was his first involvement in union since playing for Australia Schoolboys in 2019.
Having settled into the match with some nice touches, Joe Schmidt’s side had conceded two early tries and were in need of some magic.
The former rugby league star – signed by Rugby Australia on a three-year deal reportedly worth A$5.35m (£2.7m) – did not disappoint.
A little hitch-kick got Suaalii on the outside of the electric Ollie Sleightholme, before a ridiculous one-handed over-the-top pass over George Furbank sent Tom Wright over.
Former England fly-half Paul Grayson believes the sport have “nabbed a megastar” from league.
“He has made a pass before the event has happened,” Grayson told BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly. “As Furbank started to step in, he is already providing a gentle little basketball-roll over him.
“You know you have to commit, but he’s already done you. It was glorious.
“Literally his first game of grown-up rugby union.”
England’s 2003 World Cup winner Matt Dawson added: “Suaalii is 6ft 5in tall with arms like Mr Tickle. It’s like eight-foot when he has the ball in the air and that’s really hard to stop.”
