The Springboks limped into Cape Town with bruised egos, but the Wallabies swaggered in with no fear. Fresh off a history-making ambush at Ellis Park, Joseph Sua’ali’i and company are daring to believe they can bloody the Boks twice in a row.
“We have no fear in my opinion,” said Sua’ali’i, the 22-year-old centre who last weekend looked every bit the Wallabies’ new midfield talisman.
Brave words but backed by deeds. After trailing 22–0 in Johannesburg, the Wallabies ripped off 38 unanswered points to claim their first victory at Ellis Park in 62 years. In one half of rugby, they turned the fortress into rubble.
For Sua’ali’i, it was the sweetest moment yet in what has already been a whirlwind nine months in union. A former Australia under-18 international, he crossed codes last October after four seasons in rugby league, making a big-money return to the 15-man game.
Within weeks, he was wearing gold at Twickenham against England. By July, he had played all three bruising Tests against the Lions. And now, at Ellis Park, he scored his first Test try against the reigning world champions.
“Honestly, I’ve really enjoyed the whole experience so far,” he said.
“Playing at Twickenham and then playing at Ellis Park and then going up against the Lions. It’s pretty hard to say which one’s the best but yeah, I’m just enjoying every single part of what rugby union brings.”
Sua’ali’i’s 60-metre intercept off Manie Libbok’s floating pass was a turning point. Edwill van der Merwe gave chase, but Sua’ali’i stretched his legs and dove over the line.
“It was pretty cool to score my first try for the Wallabies, and it was a special moment,” he smiled. “It is also always special to do something that hasn’t happened for a while.”
The hype around his high-profile code switch has been relentless, but Sua’ali’i bats away suggestions of pressure.
“I’ve always said it. The game of rugby is just not me,” he explained.
“There’s 23 players who are playing … actually, no, there’s more. You’ve got the whole training week with the players that don’t get picked and then you’ve got coaches and everyone. So it’s just not me.
“At the end of the day, it’s a team sport. That’s how I see it. I don’t really see it as pressure on me. How can I be the best for the team? So that’s how I see it.”
His view of rugby is almost romantic: a young man wide-eyed at the game’s ability to turn teammates into family and training tours into life experiences. “I feel like you live with the boys here and they become your family away from your family,” he said.
“I’m really enjoying building different relationships and experiencing different things in different countries with your best mates. I feel like travelling the world is something every young kid wants to do, so I’m just enjoying the dream that’s being created.”
But dreams don’t win Test matches — grit does. And Sua’ali’i was adamant Australia’s win in Johannesburg was about resilience, not Bok complacency.
“I don’t think the Springboks dropped off; we just showed good fight. The opening minutes were like a whirlwind, but we stuck to what we could.”
That mental steel has been forged in battle.
“We have been building since the Lions and that last win over them and then coming into the first game against the Boks. To win for the first time has been good. We are now just focused on building for this week. The focus is on growing each game, and I believe we are doing that.”
The Wallabies have swapped the Highveld thunder for the icy bite of Table Bay are bracing for a Bok backlash.
South Africa, stung by surrendering their fortress, will come with fury, power, and precision for the full 80 minutes.
Sua’ali’i shrugged. “We know they will bring their best for 80 minutes, and they will come out firing. We just have to prepare for 90.”
It was a cheeky jab, suggesting the Boks could throw the kitchen sink and the Aussies would still have gas left. But it summed up the new Wallaby mood: no longer overawed tourists, but contenders who have smelt blood.
Ellis Park may have been the warning shot. Cape Town could be the cannon fire.
For the first time in years, the Wallabies aren’t hoping for a miracle against the Springboks. They’re expecting to win.
