'A long day': Why Kerevi was 'glad' England star wasn't available for Wallabies series
World class centre Samu Kerevi has revealed why he was “glad” that Manu Tuilagi didn’t come to Australia for England’s three-match Test series earlier this year.
Kerevi is one of the most menacing and destructive ball carriers in rugby today, and many would agree that he’s one of the best centres in the world.
The former Queensland Reds captain, who has played more than 40 Test matches in the famous gold jersey, is now plying his trade for Suntory Sungoliath in Japan’s Top League.
While his decision to head to Japan was a surprise to many, the now 29-year-old has still been able to don green and gold for the both the Wallabies and for the Sevens team.
Kerevi, who represented Australia at the Olympics and was injured at Commonwealth Games this year, started all three Test matches against England in July.
But speaking on RugbyPass Offload, Kerevi has opened up about the time he was bumped off by Tuilagi during a Test match at Twickenham.
“I think the one play at the World Cup would’ve been Manu (Tuilagi). Playing him, I remember, I think it was a Test match at England at Twickenham, we lost,” Kerevi said.
“He ran this ball and he just bumped me over. It’s the first time I’ve ever felt another big man just run past me. I was just like, ‘yep that’s going to be a long day.’
“He’s probably one centre that I wouldn’t say I feared him but he’s a solid dude. When he ran you knew he was coming and you had to be ready for that physicality.
RugbyPass Offload EP 53 with Samu Kerevi ?
The lads are back with one of the great centres of modern rugby ?
We talk…
– Why he's terrified of Tuilagi and Eddie Jones ?
– How close he came to quitting Wallabies
– Should Alun wyn Jones retire?
?? https://t.co/y9TN9g3sie pic.twitter.com/EiN8TOyMAL— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 9, 2022
“That’s why I was really glad he didn’t come down to Australia for the England series.”
Kerevi also named two Rugby World Cup winning All Blacks as other opponents that he’s enjoyed playing against, including an all-time great who he ‘based my game around.”
“I was fortunate enough to play Ma’a Nonu. He was kind of a guy that I based my game around in terms of someone who ran that ball really well, but then he evolved his game over time,” he also told the podcast.
“I was blessed enough to play him in a game (between) the Reds and Hurricanes, but I don’t think I ever played him in the All Black jersey which is probably the only thing I wanted to do was verse him in an All Black jersey.
“I knew I had a handful with Sonny (Bill Williams) when he was playing with the ABs just because of his offload game. He’s a big man, so trying to chop him but he’d get that offload off so trying to secure that.”
While he’s not involved in the Wallabies’ five-Test spring tour at the moment, Kerevi had some things to say about Australia’s close loss to France.
Australia got off Northern Tour off to a ideal start, as they beat Scotland by one-point at Murrayfield. Blair Kinghorn missed a penalty in the final minute, which saw the visitors hold on for a tough win.
Then a week later, the Wallabies were on the cusp of an incredible upset win over France at Stade de France, before a try inside the final five minutes broke the hearts of Australian rugby supporters.
But Kerevi believes the loss was an important “stepping stone” for Australia a year out from the Rugby World Cup, which will be held in France.
“For me it was just seeing those young fellas stand up in their positions and for the team. We’ve had a lot of guys get injured throughout the year and not having a full squad to pick from.
“It’s a good stepping stone moving towards next year and I think for us it’s seeing where the bar is.
“We’re also missing a lot of opportunities that we could have taken to close off that game, and little things like that you can’t waste in a Test match, because a team like France or any team in Test match footy will make you pay for it.”
Next up for the Wallabies is an exciting Test against Italy and Florence, where star prop Allan Alaalatoa set to become the Wallabies’ 85th captain.
Australia will then end their tour with a tough Test against World No. 1 Ireland in Dublin, before a crunch clash with Wales at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments