‘He’s made it look easy’: Springboks rival blown away by Suaalii’s rugby transition

Veteran Springboks centre Jesse Kriel says Wallabies rival Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is one of the best athletes he has encountered and doesn’t get the credit he deserves as a world-class centre.

Kriel, a two-time World Cup winner for South Africa, offered effusive praise for Suaalii as he and Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus both welcomed the prospect of the Perth Bears – and the NRL in general –  recruiting rugby talent from South Africa.

“If there’s an opportunity for a guy that isn’t getting game time in South Africa or potentially wants to try something different, I think that’s awesome,” Kriel said.

Kriel is one of a number of league fans among the Springboks, and enjoyed spending time with Kangaroos players when the teams shared a hotel in London last year.

Since debuting for the Boks against the Wallabies in 2015, the powerhouse Kriel has been touted as a player who would make a good NRL recruit, including as recently as June by Andrew Johns in his Herald column.

On his way to winning back-to-back Rugby World Cups in 2019 and 2023, Kriel never thought seriously about switch codes, and says he’s now too old. But he is a big admirer of a man who did make the jump: Suaalii.

The pair faced off twice in the Wallabies’ two-Test tour of South Africa last year, in which Suaalli scored a try in Australia’s drought-breaking 38-22 win at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. Kriel then captained the Boks to a narrow 30-22 win over Australia the following week in Cape Town.

The 32-year-old is surprised about the level of debate in Australia around Suaalii’s performances in gold, and whether centre is his best position.

“Firstly you’ve got to understand how hard it is to come from a different code or different league of game,” Kriel said. “Secondly, I think he’s been incredible for the Wallabies. I don’t think he’s got the credit he deserves.

“He’s probably one of the best athletes I’ve seen. His vertical jump and what he does. His ability to move on the ball and the speed in which he does. Also defensively, how great he’s been.

“You know that No.13 is probably one of the most difficult positions on the field to defend at. And he’s made it look easy. I don’t think the Australian media has given him the credit he deserves.”

“He’s been incredible and definitely up there as one of the centres that I find it really hard to play against. I’d see him in the centres. He’s been great there.

“But whether he plays at centre, wing or full-back, he’s a real asset to the Australian team.”

Kriel and other Springboks attended the Kangaroos’ win over England at Wembley last year.

“I love that sport, and so do a lot of the boys,” he said. “It’s definitely a sport I’ve learnt a lot from: defensively, the amount of work they get through, the fitness levels.”

Speaking at their Central Coast camp, ahead of a clash with the Wallabies in Perth on Sunday, Kriel and Erasmus admitted they weren’t aware that the Bears had hired former Wallaby David Campese to scout for players in South Africa. And nor were they aware the NRL had, more broadly, identified their country’s deep rugby ranks as a potential talent pool to help populate teams post-expansion.

But neither had any issues with the prospect of South African rugby players getting a chance to play in the NRL.

“You’ve got so many good rugby players in South Africa, and not everyone can get a start,” Kriel said. “Any South African that gets presented with an opportunity like that, I think they’ll jump at it with both hands.”

With South Africa on track to make history and win a third straight Rugby World Cup next year in Australia, the Boks are revered in the country.

Erasmus therefore isn’t worried about the prospect of any of the top tier of rugby players being wooed by the Bears or other NRL sides, but he echoed Kriel is saying he is supportive for any South African athlete with a chance to play high-level sport.

“For a young player to get any opportunity to play sport at a professional level and maybe move abroad, that’s an amazing thing, and it’s a chance for them to perhaps have a better life,” Erasmus said. “That’s only ever a good thing.”

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