'Fiji holds a special place in our heart': Kerevi fit and firing for crucial clash
Strike centre Samu Kerevi is hungry for more game time as the Wallabies prepare to tackle Fiji in a critical Rugby World Cup clash in Saint-Etienne.
On the comeback from serious hand and knee injuries, Kerevi was eased back into action in Australia’s opening pool match in Paris against Georgia, playing only 41 minutes.
Coach Eddie Jones said the plan was to give Kerevi a hit-out to ensure he was ready to line up against the impressive Pacific islanders.
While the match on Sunday (Monday AEST) is special for Fiji-born Kerevi, it has major ramifications for Australia.
Fiji fell to Wales in a thriller in their first pool game, meaning that barring any major upsets, a win by the Wallabies will see them and the Welsh advance to the quarter-finals.
Kerevi said it was tough to have to depart the Stade de France field just after halftime but it was all part of the plan around his return, having not played since breaking his hand against New Zealand in early August.
“I didn’t want to overload my body so they had a great plan around it and 40 minutes was part of it,” the 29-year-old said.
“It was hard to stay disciplined because I felt I could keep going.”
The Wallabies need 108kg Kerevi at his tackle-busting best against Fiji, who shocked England in a World Cup warm-up.
Fiji had a chance to snatch victory over Wales but former NRL star Semi Radradra knocked on close to the line in the dying seconds, condemning his team to a 32-26 loss.
They will prove a handful for Australia’s defence – making the most carries of any team in the opening round of the tournament and ranked third for defenders beaten.
One of seven players with Fiji ties in the Wallabies squad, Kerevi, who moved to Australia when he was four, said he was excited to line up against his birth country.
“It’s definitely special playing your home country because Fiji holds a special place in our heart,” he said.
“But once you put on the jersey we’re Australians and we’re excited for the challenge.”
Australia have lost to Fiji twice playing in Sydney – in 1952 and 1954 – while the countries have squared off at three World Cups including the last two.
In 2019 in Japan, the Australians trailed by nine points after 46 minutes but then scored 27 unanswered points for a 39-21 victory.
Kerevi was part of the starting line-up, scoring a try in the second half blitz.
Now with Fiji Drua in Super Rugby Pacific, Kerevi says the island nation is even more dangerous.
“I think a big part of it is in Drua and I think (Drua coach) Mick Byrne has done a great job down there growing that grassroots level and keeping the team together because you see the combinations they have,” he said.
“A lot of it has come from Drua and has transitioned over to the Fiji team, which has played well and you saw the result against England.”
The Wallabies will name their team to face Fiji on Friday with at least one change with halfback Tate McDermott missing due to concussion protocols.
Jones is tossing up whether to continue with goal-kicking ace Ben Donaldson, who was man of the match in their opening pool win against Georgia, at fullback or revert to his previous first choice Andrew Kellaway.
Comments on RugbyPass
Danny 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.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 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 commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
35 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to comments