Angus Crichton has leapt to the defence of former Roosters teammate Joseph Suaalii, urging critics to “let the kid play” as his Wallabies debut nears.
The 21-year-old, who only wrapped up his NRL commitments last month, has been parachuted into the Australian squad for the upcoming Spring Tour in the UK.
Suaalii is expected to feature in the green and gold for the first time before the end of 2024, with head coach Joe Schmidt confirming the code-hopper was in his plans.
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The decision from Wallabies selectors has drawn some criticism on social media, while rugby league commentator Andrew Voss also took aim at the selection.
Joseph Suaalii talks to Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt at the AIS. Getty
“You can’t have two training sessions and then get picked for Australia,” he said on SEN Radio this week.
“He’s got to play a game beforehand and it can’t be a Test. That’s absolute rubbish.”
Those comments quite clearly struck a nerve with Crichton, who is in the midst of his own international duties with the Kangaroos.
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The back-rower took to social media platform X and offered his support to Suaalii.
“Shoosh let the kid play,” Crichton said, accompanied by a silencing and sleeping emoji.
Suaalii has played union in the past, coming through The King’s College in Parramatta and representing his country in under-age competitions before choosing league.
Crichton himself is no stranger to the 15-man code, playing for Scots at schoolboy level before being picked up by the Rabbitohs once he finished high school.
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The rampaging Roosters star was linked with Rugby Australia earlier this year, but has since put pen to paper on a fresh deal with the NRL powerhouse.