Big-money rugby league convert Joseph Suaalii has been named in Australia’s 34-man squad to travel to the northern hemisphere next month.
The 21-year-old former Sydney Roosters wing or centre is yet to play a professional rugby union game after a switch from league reportedly worth more than 5m Australian dollars (£2.6m).
Uncapped former Leicester wing Harry Potter, now with Western Force, has also been named in Joe Schmidt’s squad for their tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Schmidt said that Suaalii – who he will use at centre, wing or full-back – needed to be brought in now in preparation for Australia’s home series against the British and Irish Lions next year.
“I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t conscious of the big deal that he’s on and the profile that he has, because you can’t not be aware of that,” said Schmidt.
“As much as we think maybe it might have been better to come through [the second string Australia XV], part of it is that we play the Lions next year.
“So if he doesn’t debut on this tour, then there’s very little window. There may be one opportunity to play before the Lions next year, and that would be it. So for us, we feel a little bit of pressure to be able to fast-track him.”
Waratahs fly-half Tane Edmed, 21, is the third uncapped player called up, while last year’s World Cup captain Will Skelton is named.
The 32-year-old lock missed the Wallabies’ summer Tests and the Rugby Championship because of commitments to French club La Rochelle.
“He’s [Skelton’s] keen as mustard,” added Schmidt. “He didn’t need any convincing to play for the Wallabies. He’s a really positive character and he has real gravitas in the group.”
Centre Samu Kerevi also returns to international rugby for the first time this year – but the 31-year-old, who plays his club rugby in Japan, and Skelton will be unavailable to face Ireland in Dublin on 30 November as the game falls outside the international window.
Australia first face England at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on 9 November before playing Wales in Cardiff on 17 November and Scotland at Murrayfield on 24 November.
The Wallabies – who finished bottom of the Rugby Championship after recording only one victory, over Argentina – also named a 30-player Australia XV squad to travel to the UK for matches against Bristol on 8 November and England A at Twickenham Stoop on 17 November.
