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Reds star Suliasi Vunivalu 'empowered' after Crusaders clash as he eyes Wallabies selection
An up-close encounter with the world’s best club rugby outfit has only empowered NRL convert Suliasi Vunivalu.
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The Queensland Reds winger was one of the few bright spots in a record 63-28 thumping from the Crusaders on Saturday.
The former Melbourne Storm premiership star narrowly missed his second straight try-scoring double while he also produced a booming clearance kick and jumped into the back of a ruck in a busy finish at Suncorp Stadium.
It was the 25-year-old’s second appearance and first start since a hamstring injury in late March, while he was also suspended by the club for the season-opener after a run-in with a hotel security guard.
Vunivalu, who described the Crusaders as a “champion side … playing a different game”, had every excuse to feel uncomfortable given he’s already playing a different game.
But, ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Chiefs in Townsville and with a test debut against France in July beckoning, Vunivalu walked away pleased it is starting to come naturally.
“I’ve been really focusing on my kicking lately, so it was good to get one away and also get into the rucks, just doing what I’ve been told to do,” he said.
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“If you feel like if you can get in there you’ve got a free pass to get around the field and go looking for the ball.
“It was really frustrating at the start of the season then once I got the groove back I got injured.
“Now I’m back in I can hopefully stay injury free and that’s [a Wallabies debut] the goal, so I’ll just keep working hard.”
Reds fullback Bryce Hegarty, who played rugby league with Brisbane’s under-20s before his code switch, said Vunivalu’s diligence matched his physical gifts.
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“With Suli it doesn’t surprise me [how quickly he’s adjusted], because he does his homework,” Hegarty said.
Melbourne are relying on the Victorian-New Zealand travel bubble reopening by Saturday or a travel exemption to play their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman match against the Highlanders in Queenstown on Sunday. #SuperRugbyTT #HIGvREB https://t.co/FfYjQSOFfP
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 26, 2021
“It’s the little things in the game that are the hardest; positioning, all the different rules.
“But if you’re prepared you’re going to do well – and he works hard.”
Hegarty said the Reds had plenty to prove after heavy back-to-back losses against the Highlanders and Crusaders followed their emotional Super Rugby AU defeat of the Brumbies.
“After investing so much into that (an 8-1 Super AU campaign) it’s been a big test and some of it hasn’t been up to scratch,” he said.
“We’re leaving ourselves a bit short.
“The game is faster – everyone can see that – which is really good, but we’ve let them take the lead on that rather than adapt.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
The side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
4 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
4 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
4 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
4 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to comments