Samu shot in arm but not a cure

SAMU Kerevi’s explosive comeback has cured the outside centre crisis yet Michael Cheika’s erratic Wallabies have again proved they are masters of solving one problem only to be torpedoed by another.

Kerevi was a huge handful for the All Blacks in his 24minute cameo in Yokohama last Saturday when he showed far more punch and direct running than whole halves of rugby played by the Wallabies this season.

Israel Folau was only nominally at No.13 in the 37-20 loss because winger Sefa Naivalu defended at outside centre so it was a patch-up job done well until Kerevi ran out any cobwebs after three months sidelined with injuries. He showed none with seven runs for 34m, a piston-like fend that rocked All Black Anton LienertBrown, five tackle busts and a one-handed off-load as good as any he’s thrown to put Folau over for a late try.

“Samu made a couple of really good line-breaks and carries for us and it’s probably something we’ve missed over the last couple of months,” Folau said. “It’s huge to have him back.”

A big Scott Sio run in midfield, Naivalu’s return, a much better Test from Marika Koroibete, one comeback run from flanker Jack Dempsey after a year out and Bernard Foley positives were pluses to go with far better resetting in defence.

The defeat was still the ninth by a margin of 17 or more in the last 11 against our onceclose rivals from New Zealand so don’t be swayed too much by the nuggets of gold.

The only pass mark left to jolt Wallabies fans into believing the pain of this 3-7 season equates to progress is a clean sweep in Europe next month against Wales, Italy and England.

Cheika’s nemesis Eddie Jones will be waiting at Twickenham on November 24 with a 5-0 grin from past Tests against his mate.