Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii passed fit for final UK clash with Ireland

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says he’s “paddling hard, but I’m not necessarily going forward” despite two wins on the UK tour and the emergence of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who has been passed for fit the final clash with Ireland after hurting his wrist against Scotland.

Having already dispelled fears Suaalii had broken his wrist in last week’s defeat in Edinburgh, Schmidt confirmed it was only a “dead arm” and there are no concerns about his ability to handle the challenge of taking on the world’s second ranked team.

“Joe’s fine,” Schmidt said.

“He got one of those stingers where he had a bit of a dead arm. We felt it was better to get it properly assessed and couldn’t hold the game up to do that so took him out of the game, which was disappointing, but he’s fully fit and fully able.”

Taniela Tupou has overcome a frustrating calf problem to take his place in the scrum with veteran James Slipper, while Fraser McReight, missed against Scotland while being rested, is another key recall.

Replacement flyhalf Tane Edmed is also set to be Australia’s 19th debutant of 2024, a national record for first-gamers in one year.

Having taking over from Eddie Jones after the 2023 World Cup debacle, Schmidt, who coached Ireland for six years, admitted it was hard to gauge his progress with the Wallabies.

“I feel like I’m paddling hard, but I’m not necessarily going forward – but I think we’re keeping our head above water,” he said.

“We’re trying to build to 80-minute performances and build depth so if we get a ripple like we did last week (in the 27-13 loss to Scotland), we can still try to stay on top of the water.”

Schmidt said the changes, for a third game running, were made with an eye to development before the Lions tour to Australia next year that looms as the ultimate test for his improvements.

“That was always the brief for me coming into the job because that is a massive series – for the Wallabies and the Australian public,” he said.

“We were pretty committed to make sure everyone originally selected in the tour squad was going to take the field. Tane will be our 19th debutant for the season because we wanted to try to really grow the group this year, galvanise the group as well, so that we can be as competitive as we can next season.

“I honestly believe the Lions tour will be a fantastic occasion next year. Faz (Lions and Ireland coach Andy Farrell) and I had a coffee in May, we talked about hoping it would be the right sort of spectacle.

“I think both coaches are committed to it and both teams will be committed to that as well. It has the opportunity to really promote the game and be a fantastic occasion for competitive rugby.”