'It's a next man up mentality': Wallabies looking for Kerevi solution
Still reeling from the long-term loss of Samu Kerevi, the Wallabies are vowing to embrace the next man up mentality ahead of their opening Rugby Championship Test against Argentina.
Kerevi will consult a specialist in Brisbane after suffering a knee injury while playing in Australia’s Commonwealth Games Sevens team but the early diagnosis is that he will require surgery.
It’s a massive blow for the Wallabies’ hopes of winning the Rugby Championship or finally wresting back the Bledisloe Cup from New Zealand which they last won in 2003.
The 28-year-old was already skipping the Wallabies’ two Tests against the Pumas, with game one in Mendoza on Sunday (AEST) followed by a second in San Juan a week later, but had been expected to return for the next four Tests against South Africa and the All Blacks.
The hard-running inside centre was a stand-out in Australia’s recent series loss to England.
“I’m obviously very disappointed for Samu, I had a chat with him just before and now it’s about him getting his body right,” said centre partner Len Ikitau from Buenos Aires.
“I know the type of person he is, and he’s going to bounce back and be right for next year.
“It was awesome to play with Samu … he’s direct and for me, it’s playing off the kind of go-forward ball that he produces.
“For us, though, it’s a next man up mentality, coming in and doing the job.”
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has a couple of options to wear the No.12 jersey – with one possibility that Hunter Paisami takes over at inside centre alongside Ikitau.
That was the Wallabies’ combination on last year’s UK spring tour, which Kerevi sat out due to his Japan club obligations.
With the team to be announced Thursday local time, Rennie might also opt to start Lalakai Foketi in either role.
The Waratahs ace has only played one Test, coming off the bench last year against Wales, but impressed in the recent Australia A Pacific Cup campaign.
Star winger Marika Koroibete was asked by reporters about Paisami and said the Reds campaigner he could step into the inside centre role seamlessly.
“He’s kind of a different player from Samu, he’s got his own game, his own super power,” said Koroibete.
“He’s got ball skills, and he’s an extra playmaker for us.
“He brings energy and he loves to hit … and I reckon if Hunter got picked this week he’s going to do a very good job.”
The Wallabies will look to get off to a fast start to try and silence the Argentine crowd who have been starved of international rugby for the past three years.
They got a taste last month when new Pumas coach, ex-Wallabies boss Michael Cheika orchestrated a series win over Scotland.
“It was disappointing we didn’t get the win over England but it’s a new competition and there are trophies up for grabs,” said Ikitau, who has played 15 Tests.
“We’re working towards winning the Rugby Championship and that starts this week against Argentina.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Pick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
15 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
15 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
15 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
15 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
15 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
15 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
15 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to comments