Attacking ace says defence key for Wallabies
RUGBY UNION: Rampaging centre Samu Kerevi says Australia’s renewed defensive starch has helped his impressive return to the Test arena.
Man-of-the-match in the 26-7 victory over Italy yesterday, Kerevi plans for a similarly explosive outing against England at Twickenham next Sunday (AEST), but Australia will need injured flanker David Pocock on the field to be any chance.
The Wallabies are hopeful Pocock will recover from a “neck stinger” that forced him off the field in the 52nd minute, as he is the key to the defence Kerevi spoke of after the win given his turnover abilities.
Kerevi made a game-high 14 runs for 127 metres, including a linebreak, three tackle busts and an offload.
“I just get the guys geeing up, I just try to do my job for the team especially on those edges, carrying strong,” Kerevi said.
“My performance comes on the back of the team’s performance and for us it’s momentum through defence.
“I feel like when we defend really well, it transitions to attack where we’ve got the confidence of going up.”
Winger Adam Ashley-Cooper was also impressive in his return to Test rugby after more than two years in hiatus with overseas clubs, making two linebreaks and playing a hand in both of Marika Koroibete’s firsthalf tries.
Taniela Tupou and Will Genia also crossed for tries, but coach Michael Cheika wants his side to be more clinical against England.
“In the attacking side of the game we’ve definitely got improvements to make, but we’re still showing enough glimmers that we need to finish,” Cheika said.
“It’s more about taking the opportunities that we’re creating, because we are creating some opportunities. Maybe just the wrong choice here or there but nothing crazy.
“The core of what we’ve been working on after the start of the season has been trying to get our defence very consistent, and that will be a huge part of the game next week.”
Five-eighth Matt Toomua was composed as a playmaker, while Bernard Foley had a mixed game at inside centre and it would not surprise to see Kurtley Beale wearing the No.12 jersey at Twickenham.
“Whatever combination we put together for next week we’ll have a look at it, then going into next season we’ll settle on what we’re going to do,” Cheika said of his playmaking dilemma.
“After next weekend we’ll sit down in the off-season, watch a bit of Super Rugby and decide as we go into the series next year, in the lead-up to the World Cup, exactly what it’s going to look like.
“Matt’s done enough from before today, and well into his form overseas, that’s why we wanted to bring him back.
“I thought since he’s been back, (that) was definitely his best game.”