The two questions Australian rugby need answers to ASAP

Two things need to be resolved quickly in Australian rugby. Joe Schmidt’s future and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s playing position. The fact that Suaalii was lined up to play No.15 in the trial against the Brumbies was a head-scratcher. The Wallabies don’t need a No 15 after Tom Wright’s brilliant 2024 and Rugby Australia and the Waratahs are supposed to be closely aligned these days. Given that Suaalii started his Wallabies career in the midfield it would have made sense for him to continue in that position in Super Rugby. Perhaps the Wallabies aren’t sold on him in that role and are happy for him to make the shift into the back three, but the Wallabies aren’t short of options in those positions and Suaalii did enough on tour to suggest that his physicality is well suited to the midfield.

Val Te Whare carves up Japan – and outshines Manu

Get Valynce Te Whare on that plane from Japan and into the Anzac XV for the game against the British and Irish Lions. The former NRL cult hero has made the switch to Japanese rugby and is enjoying a stellar start. Playing for the unheralded Shizuoka Blue Revs, Te Whare scored a 95-metre try at the weekend and looks explosive and fast. That was his fourth try already this season and the Blue Revs are surprisingly sitting in fifth on the ladder with four wins from six games. Te Whare started the season on the bench but in recent weeks has been wearing the No 14 jersey, and he scored twice as the Blue Revs beat Richie Mo’unga’s Toshiba Brave Lupus a few weeks ago. The move hasn’t been as happy for Joey Manu, whose Toyota Verblitz have won just one game from six. Te Whare has a rugby background – Super Rugby clubs on both side of the Tasman are surely watching.

Ireland’s imports do it again

Have there been three more consequential signings in Test rugby during the past decade or so than Ireland’s acquisition of New Zealanders Bundee Aki, James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park? The trio were outstanding in Ireland’s 27-22 win against England and already looked like nailed-on certainties for the Lions tour. Late bloomer Gibson-Park was man of the match and scored a try, Aki scored a try, and Lowe set up two tries with his uncanny ability to bust tackles. They are difference makers and although the three are all over 30 (Aki is 34) they are all integral to the way Ireland play. Gibson-Park’s long, fast accurate passing game will provide a massive challenge for the Wallabies. He can change the point of attack in an instant.

Forget about England

Australian fans should be getting used to Scottish names rather than the perennially overhyped English – I’m willing to bet Andy Farrell names more Scots than English for the tour. Finn Russell is a certainty at No.10, and that’ll increase the chances of a lot more Scots, especially in the backs. Huw Jones, Darcy Graham, Ben White, Blair Kinghorn and the currently injured Sione Tuipulotu are massive chances for the Lions, and up front, No.7 Rory Darge, No.1 Pierre Schoeman, No.6 Jamie Ritchie and No.8 Matt Fagerson must all be good shouts. Scotland were pushed by Italy at the weekend because Italy are quite good, and certainly appear to better than the hapless Welsh, whom they host this weekend.