In 1984 at Twickenham, Australia sprang a trick play on England nicknamed “Leaguie” which delivered the first try of the Wallabies’ grand slam sweep of the home nations. Flyhalf Mark Ella took a pass from halfback Nick Farr-Jones, looped centre Michael Lynagh, then threw a sublime dummy to ghost behind the defensive line and score.
Forty years on, a new Australian “Leaguie” will be weaponised on a grand slam quest, with confirmation the Wallabies’ expensive new toy, Joseph Sua’ali’i – wooed back to rugby from the NRL on a record three-year deal worth AU$5m – has been fast-tracked into a gold jersey for the Spring Tests against England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Sua’ali’i, whose 196cm frame and 100kg heft now carries the weight of a nation, was the human headline of a 64-man touring party announced by coach Joe Schmidt. In truth, the 21-year-old schoolboy star had scooped both his coach and the media by naming himself for the tour last month, a gambit Schmidt described as “interesting”.
Supreme self-confidence will be needed if Australia are to pull off a grand slam heist for the first time since 1984. After a horror World Cup under Eddie Jones, a 23rd straight series defeat to New Zealand and a plummet to No 10 in the IRB rankings, the return of a prodigal son who boasts genuine X-factor is a welcome ray of light.
“We talk a lot about eyes and feet – see the threats in defence and the opportunities in attack, then use your feet to get to where you need to go,” Schmidt’s assistant Laurie Fischer says of Sua’ali’i. “That suits him down to the ground.
“Opportunities and threats… shutting them down, opening them up. I think he’ll be fantastic at that.”
In parachuting Sua’ali’i onto the frontline, Australia has broken the emergency glass in preparation for the British & Irish Lions tour in July 2025 and a home World Cup in 2027. It’s also why Rugby Australia has taken the unprecedented step of naming two touring parties, with the 30-man Australia XV squad to play Bristol Bears and England A.
“What we’re trying to do is expose 64 players to high-level competition,” Peter Horne, RA’s new chief of high performance, told media last week. “It’s a big year, 15 Tests, with the Lions, Rugby Championship and November window, that’s a huge load. With Australia XV, we’ve got a workforce that’s aligned, working the Wallabies philosophy.”
Historically, the “Wallaby Way” has been everything Ella showed that day in 1984: attacking intent, creative flair and mongrel courage, usually played with ball in hand. Under Schmidt, Australia has reset, playing with patience and improved discipline. But with RA deep in debt and the local fanbase for rugby shrinking, winning is everything.
Schmidt’s win-loss sits at 4-5, having beaten Wales (twice), Georgia and Argentina before sweeps by the Springboks and All Blacks and a 66-27 caning by Los Pumas. This tour is his last chance to build combinations and galvanise a team capable of eclipsing the all-star Lions, the final challenge in the 59-year-old’s two-year contract.
Schmidt sails into a storm. England beat world No 1 Ireland in March and went within a point of beating New Zealand in July. Ireland upset World Cup winners South Africa in July. Scotland have scored 198 points in their last four Tests. Wales have recalled flyhalf Gareth Anscombe, architect of the Wallabies’ 40-6 humiliation at the World Cup.
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Australia has recalled the 203cm Will Skelton from Top 14 duties with La Rochelle and centre Samu Kerevi from League Two in Japan despite neither veteran delivering at the World Cup. Wrecking-ball winger Marika Koroibete has been axed after 63 caps and replaced by London-born flyer and former Leicester Tiger, Harry Potter.
Schmidt’s most vexing issue remains where to find a wizard like Ella at flyhalf. The inclusion of uncapped No 10 Tane Edmed over Tom Lynagh, son of grand slam star Michael, might be the answer. Spurned for Noah Lolesio in the home season, the 24-year-old went on a tear in New Zealand’s NPC. With Sua’ali’i to play inside Edmed at the Waratahs in 2025, Schmidt must trial their chemistry in the Spring Tests.
The Wallabies’ last UK tour was 2022 under another New Zealander in Dave Rennie. After edging Scotland 16-15, they suffered narrow losses to France (30-29), Italy (28-27) and world No 1 Ireland (13-10) before squeaking past Wales 39-34. It was a strong campaign but Rennie was axed soon after and Jones’ reign began.
Schmidt is still cleaning up that mess, but these Tests are crucial. If gains cannot be made, hopes for a competitive Lions series will sink. For all his insider knowledge of the All Blacks, Australia lost both Bledisloe Tests 31-28 and 33-13. Schmidt won the 2019 grand slam for Ireland. Can old Joe – and young Joseph – win one for Australia?
