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Swoop for another Fijian winger sees NRL journalist hit out at Rugby Australia
An NRL senior journalist has criticised Rugby Australian after the signing of rugby league’s Suliasi Vunivalu from the Melbourne Storm.
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The Fiji league international has agreed to join the Queensland Reds from 2021, leaving Brad Walter to claim on Twitter that “the obsession with recruiting Fijian rugby league wingers sums up everything that is wrong with Australian rugby union”.
Since the signing was announced, the assumption has been made by many fans that the 24-year-old will opt to play for the Wallabies, just as current John Eales Medal winner Marika Koroibete did.
Both players were born and raised in Fiji but were signed by the Storm as teenagers. Koroibete also represented Fiji in league and many are expecting Vunivalu to make a similar move.
The obsession with recruiting Fijian rugby league wingers sums up everything that is wrong with Australian rugby union
— Brad Walter (@BradWalterSport) December 3, 2019
Will walk straight into the Wallabies side
— Mark (@MarkDGoldCoast) December 3, 2019
Fair chance if Rugby Australia is paying his wages he would be eligible for the Wallabies and be available for Wallabies selection as no. 1 option.
— Sean Hedger (@HedgerSean) December 3, 2019
Although Vunivalu’s intentions have not been confirmed, it has not stopped Walter from criticising Rugby Australia and their approach of turning to Fijian-born players to improve their national team.
Walter even points out that the winger intends to play for Fiji in union, but fans are nonetheless assuming a Wallabies call-up will happen.
I spoke to Vunivalu in Auckland a few weeks ago. He is passionate about representing Fiji so you are off the pace with that assumption.
— Brad Walter (@BradWalterSport) December 3, 2019
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This is not a new occurrence in union or league, neither does it happen exclusively in Australia, but it is a longstanding problem that Pacific Island nations have faced competing against wealthier nations.
.@RugbyAU making true their aspirations of fielding a @wallabies team made up of the most number of #Pacificrugby players at the next Rugby World Cup. https://t.co/HDAM5MbBX1
— Kelvin Anthony (@kelvinfiji) December 3, 2019
Petaia with Vunivalu outside him!!
A big decade ahead.#Reds #Wallabies— Steve Henderson (@TTCSteve) December 3, 2019
In recent years there has been a backlash in league, particularly with the Tonga team, where players have opted to play for their country of birth, which has strengthened them immeasurably.
The class on show with the Fiji team at the recent World Cup in Japan was also an indication of what Fiji can offer if they hold onto their players. It is for that reason why Vunivalu may opt to play for Fiji instead.
The NRL seems to have a seemingly endless stream of wingers emerging, which is obviously very tempting for the Super Rugby franchises. However, from an Australian perspective, the consensus seems to be that the Wallabies’ weakness does not lie in their outside backs and bigger issues are not being addressed.
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https://twitter.com/DarrenKilminst1/status/1201778942685769728?s=20
Need a half and pivot and more people that can kick. Not another winger
— Darwinb0y (@darwinb0y) December 3, 2019
Regardless of what country Vunivalu ultimately plays for, this will be an intriguing signing. The winger burst onto the scene in 2016 and 2017 and was the NRL’s top try-scorer in both seasons, but he has lost his potency in the last two seasons.
Having been part of the Blues as a schoolboy in New Zealand, union will not be new to him, and it will be hoped that he will take to the code immediately at the Reds after his final season in league.
WATCH: Ardie Savea is set to miss the majority of the 2020 Super Rugby season due to injury
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 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.
9 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.
36 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
36 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
36 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.
36 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.
36 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.
36 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 commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments