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‘The best we’ve seen’: Ex-Wallaby hails former NRL star as ‘world-class’ talent
Dual international Mat Rogers had described Suliasi Vunivalu as one of the Wallabies’ three “world-class” wingers ahead of next month’s Rugby World Cup.
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Former NRL star Vunivalu was a shining light for the Wallabies on Sunday, with the wing scoring a try towards the end of his “best” performance in an Australian jersey.
Playing in front of an unbelievably vocal crowd at Stade de France, Vunivalu set the tone during the first half with a series of captivating runs and line breaks down the right edge.
Vunivalu, 27, ended up carrying the ball 13 times for a hard-earned 87 meters, made three line breaks and beat three defenders as well. The speedster’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed back in Australia, either.
Former Wallaby Mat Rogers, who played in the NRL before switching codes to play for Eddie Jones’ Wallabies ahead of the 2003 World Cup, has praised Vunivalu for his promising performance.
“He backed himself from the start, which was fantastic to see – the best we’ve seen in the Wallabies jersey,” Rogers said on Stan Sport.
“He got himself involved in the game and when you get an early touch, you get a bit of confidence and you just build on that. He’s a great athlete.
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“He’s a great finisher, give him an opportunity with a little bit of space and he’ll take it and he did that tonight.”
Vunivalu has, at least before Sunday’s test in northern Paris, failed to deliver in Wallaby gold under both Dave Rennie and Eddie Jones.
The electric winger played about a minute off the bench under Rennie, but was handed his first Test start ahead of the Wallabies’ clash with the Springboks last month. It didn’t go to plan.
Boks star Kurt-Lee Arendse scored a hat-trick of tries on Vunivalu’s wing, and the Wallaby was also sent to the sin bin for a professional foul. Vunivalu hasn’t been called upon by coach Jones since.
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But Vunivalu silenced some critics last weekend, and the winger’s performance may give coach Jones “a headache” going into the sports showpiece event.
“He does give Eddie Jones a headache, doesn’t he? I mean he’s got three world-class wingers now in Mark (Nawaqanitawase), Suli and Marika (Koroibete),” Rogers added.
“I think (Andrew) Kellaway was great at the back as well. It’s a good problem to have.”
The Wallabies’ defeat at Stade de France saw them fall to their fifth loss from as many starts under coach Jones. They’ll go into the World Cup without registering a win under the rugby guru.
But the Wallabies are improving. The men in gold have come a long way since their disastrous loss to the Boks in Pretoria, and appear to be edging closer to that elusive victory.
“We’ve got more players improving than declining, Suli is one,” Jones told reporters after the Test.
“At Super Rugby level he couldn’t blow a candle out, and at Test level, he scored one good try, could have scored a couple more.
“He looks like he’s ready to play at the highest level.”
Comments on RugbyPass
What a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
2 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
40 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
41 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
41 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
41 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
40 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
2 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to comments