KOB1987
John Eales (66)
There was a global talent scout on the sidelines at Scots College on July 27, 2019, watching play unfold in a Sydney schoolboys rugby game.
Scots were leading Kings 15-0 at halftime.
Then Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i decided something needed to happen. The Kings player stopped waiting for the ball out wide and came looking for action.
“It was extraordinary, he was 15 years old, and he just owned the game,” the scout said.
Sua'ali'i scored a brilliant individual try, and set up another. In the end, Scots held on for a 15-14 victory.
“But it was clear he was the best player on the field by a mile,” said the scout, who then decided to follow Sua'ali'i’s games.
“I saw the Curry brothers (Tom and Ben) who now play for England, at Oundle (College in Northamptonshire), they were exceptional.
“Rieko Ioane at Auckland Grammar was a freak, Victor Vito at Scots College Wellington was a freak. Beauden Barrett in New Plymouth, you knew he was going to be something, fast, skilful.
“But I have never seen a better talent on a schoolboy rugby field than Joseph, anywhere in the world.”
The scout never could get Sua'ali'i’s signature. But he still stands by his assessment today.
So when the news emerged that Sua'ali'i would be picked to start for the Wallabies in his international debut against England, just four weeks after his first training session with the squad, questions surrounding the decision need to be considered with this history in mind.
Sua'ali'i has risen to every challenge presented in his career thus far, so why would the 21-year-old buckle now?
There have been claims that selecting him cheapens the Wallabies jersey.
But the Sydney Roosters asked the NRL for a special age-restriction dispensation to allow him to play first grade as a 17-year-old. Did that cheapen the Roosters jersey? Hardly.
Scots were leading Kings 15-0 at halftime.
Then Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i decided something needed to happen. The Kings player stopped waiting for the ball out wide and came looking for action.
“It was extraordinary, he was 15 years old, and he just owned the game,” the scout said.
Sua'ali'i scored a brilliant individual try, and set up another. In the end, Scots held on for a 15-14 victory.
“But it was clear he was the best player on the field by a mile,” said the scout, who then decided to follow Sua'ali'i’s games.
“I saw the Curry brothers (Tom and Ben) who now play for England, at Oundle (College in Northamptonshire), they were exceptional.
“Rieko Ioane at Auckland Grammar was a freak, Victor Vito at Scots College Wellington was a freak. Beauden Barrett in New Plymouth, you knew he was going to be something, fast, skilful.
“But I have never seen a better talent on a schoolboy rugby field than Joseph, anywhere in the world.”
The scout never could get Sua'ali'i’s signature. But he still stands by his assessment today.
So when the news emerged that Sua'ali'i would be picked to start for the Wallabies in his international debut against England, just four weeks after his first training session with the squad, questions surrounding the decision need to be considered with this history in mind.
Sua'ali'i has risen to every challenge presented in his career thus far, so why would the 21-year-old buckle now?
There have been claims that selecting him cheapens the Wallabies jersey.
But the Sydney Roosters asked the NRL for a special age-restriction dispensation to allow him to play first grade as a 17-year-old. Did that cheapen the Roosters jersey? Hardly.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sp...s/news-story/fe247ef239c9f15a03a384b72cbf5879
