Wallaby power play for England
KARMICHAEL Hunt will stay in his supersub role for the Wallabies with coach Michael Cheika certain he needs all the bullocking ball-running power he can muster to end England’s 11-Test streak of home wins at Twickenham.
Sticking with Samu Kerevi as his starting inside centre is a significant call from Cheika in his plan to storm the fortress of England rugby on Sunday morning (Qld time).
The Wallabies are sevenpoint underdogs and Cheika knows he needs the 104kg Kerevi to inject as much goforward drive into the game as possible because waves of English ball-runners from the pack will certainly be doing the same thing.
Pairing Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani, as two big centres, was discarded after two Test losses to England in Australia last year but the team’s new backline configuration covers their passing limitations.
A roving Kurtley Beale from fullback was missing as a second playmaker in those Tests against England last year but he will be beside Bernard Foley at Twickenham to whip up chances for the big boppers.
Opportunities were limited for wingers Marika Koroibete and Reece Hodge against Wales in Cardiff last weekend which was a reflection of good Welsh defence but also that the Kerevi-Kuridrani pairing does stifle the ball getting to the edges sometimes.
“The challenge is to try to find a bit of space for Marika to get the ball in,” Wallabies attack coach Steve Larkham said. “Most of the time he’s running through pretty crowded channels.”
The bonus to Kerevi starting
is that a strong defensive connection has developed with fellow Fijians Kuridrani and Koroibete.
The trio even mix their chat in English and Fijian to make sure their calling is strong although Koroibete said that “reading body language in the defenders beside you is the most important thing.”
Hunt replaced Kerevi at inside centre for the final 28 minutes against Wales and that job-sharing would be a solid blueprint for Twickenham to get Hunt’s energy and physicality involved.
Cheika’s backing of a settled team is to be applauded because it has allowed key units like the front-row and the back-row of Michael Hooper, Sean McMahon and Ned Hanigan to further develop their combinations.