Angus Bell isn't afraid of a bit of hard work.
You don't become one of the world's best props without it and the Wallabies and Waratahs star has made an off-season habit of getting farm fit at his family property in Bungendore.
But Bell got shown up by city slicker Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii recently when he invited him to get a taste of country life.
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Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Angus Bell during Wallabies training at Victoria Barracks. Getty
Bell had just enjoyed a good night's sleep after the near three hour drive south from Sydney and was all set for a cruisy morning coffee catch up with some of his Brumbies buddies in Canberra.
"And then my old man (former Wallabies hooker Mark Bell), when I woke up, was like, 'mate, why aren't you, like, getting better or stretching, you know, why aren't you doing anything? Do something like Joey'," Bell told Stan Sport's Michael Atkinson.
"I went, 'what do you mean mate, it's 6.30 in the morning, like it's early as. I'm up early, like what are you talking about?'
Waratahs and Wallabies prop Angus Bell putting in the hard yards at his family farm in Bungendore. Facebook
"So Joey Suaalii was on my front porch at 5.30 in the morning, stretching and rolling out, no phone and just soaking in the nature, so he says."
Bell and Suaalii have been firm friends since their schoolboy days and were roommates on the Spring Tour.
In November, Bell delivered a fiery riposte to critics who claimed Suaalii's fast track Test selection had "cheapened" the gold jersey.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii of Australia warms up. Getty
"As soon as he steps on the field, you'll see how 'cheap' the jersey is," Bell warned.
He was, of course, bang on as the big money NRL recruit won man of the match against England in a remarkable rugby debut.
"I've never seen a 21-year-old be so professional, probably the most professional bloke I've ever met," Bell said ahead of NSW's Super Rugby season opener at Allianz Stadium on February 14.
"He's just a phenomenal athlete and the most impressive thing about Joey is just the nature of the person and his professionalism at such a young age. There's a reason he played Origin at 21, there's a reason he's represented his country, Samoa, at the (rugby league) World Cup and he was one of the best players there…
"Also just a kind human, so he's one of the best blokes I've ever met and probably the most professional I've ever met too.
"Hate blokes like that," Bell added with a laugh.
There is intrigue over where Suaalii will play against the Highlanders in round one.
He was named to start at fullback in Saturday's trial against the Brumbies in Bowral but sat out to nurse a minor knee issue.
Regardless, new Waratahs coach Dan McKellar knows he has a gem on his hands.
Jake Gordon, Dan McKellar and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii of the Waratahs. NSW Waratahs
"Joseph's greatest attribute is his work ethic and his professionalism," McKellar told Stan Sport.
"But just watching him train closely, he competes hard in every rep. He's the first player on the field and he's the last player off the field, and I think if he continues to maintain that work ethic and that desire, then he'll learn the game quickly.
"And once he's got that confidence and that belief, then what he can do with his own natural and raw talents is scary."
Wallabies speedster Max Jorgensen, who is competing with Suaalii for the sky blue No.15 jersey, is excited to be part of his journey.
"As you've seen over the Spring Tour, he's just a pure athlete," Jorgensen told Stan Sport.
"Like the jump on him, getting up for some of those high balls is insane, and he's picked up the game a lot quicker than I thought he would. So he's a smart player and he's definitely getting the hang of rugby union and he's going to have a massive impact for us this year."
