Kiss wants to keep Suaalii at outside centre
Australia rugby head coach Les Kiss does not plan to move Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii from the outside centre position, despite increased competition in the midfield ahead of a two-Test series against Argentina. Suaalii missed the previous Test against Japan due to a hamstring injury but is expected to be ready to play in the first match of the series in San Salvador on Saturday.
Suaalii's preferred position
Kiss said he had planned from the outset to use the 23-year-old at outside centre, wearing number 13, and currently has no intention of changing that approach. Suaalii has experience playing on the wing for the national team and has also played at fullback for the New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby Pacific.
According to Channel NewsAsia, in Suaalii's absence Isaac Henry performed well at number 13 in Townsville, where Hunter Paisami was his midfield partner. The return of centre Len Ikitau after recovery also provides an additional option for the coaching staff.
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At the same time, Kiss stressed the importance of versatility among backline players. In his view, players must be able to operate effectively in other positions as well, giving the team more options for selecting the lineup and responding to different situations. Suaalii has already played on the wing, while fly-halves wearing number 10 can also play at fullback.
Options in the back row
After Kiss took charge of the Wallabies ahead of the series against Japan, the team tested new tactical solutions. In the second half of the match in Townsville, two players who compete for the ball at breakdowns, Fraser McReight and Carlo Tizzano, were on the field at the same time. The coach called the combination appealing but said he does not view it as a permanent option, as the staff want to test other combinations in the back row.
Kiss also noted that the team had embraced the coaching staff's new ideas. He believes that work on defence under Scott McLeod, a former New Zealand national team assistant at the past two World Cups, has already produced results. He called the matches against Argentina an important test of Australia's progress on the road to next year's home World Cup.
