DANE OUT T O DELIVER
AUSTRALIAN winger Dane Gagai admits he faces one of the toughest tests of his career as he prepares to counter Fiji’s tryscoring typhoon Suliasi Vunivalu.
Gagai is Queensland’s reigning player of the series but such bragging rights will count for little when he attempts to match Vunivalu in tomorrow night’s World Cup semifinal at Suncorp Stadium.
Vunivalu is the World Cup’s leading tryscorer with eight and it is a measure of his brilliance that he has seven more than Gagai, who scored his maiden Test try against Lebanon a fortnight ago.
Incredibly, the Fijian flyer has scored 54 tries from 51 senior level matches, including his 46 in 47 games for Melbourne since his NRL breakthrough in 2016.
Gagai accepts Australia are expected to canter into the final after thrashing Fiji 64- 0 in their World Cup semi- final four years ago but the 2013 Bati team did not feature matchwinners such as Jarryd Hayne and Vunivalu.
“He is an outstanding athlete,” Gagai said of Vunivalu. “He has the physical make- up and he has the attitude to go with it.
“From what I hear, he works hard and is aggressive and he’s a big human. He has that X- factor that most Fijians have.”
While Gagai and Vunivalu have played on opposing flanks during the tournament, the Kangaroos ace is under pressure to match the Fijian’s punishing kick returns and finishing prowess.
“I’m not sure if he will be on the left or right wing,” Gagai said. “When we played them over in Fiji ( in a World Cup warm- up game), he was over on the other side.
“I’m not sure what side he will play this time but I just have to focus on getting my preparation right and doing everything to get myself ready for this weekend.
“Vunivalu can create something from nothing. It goes across the whole Fijian team. To see blokes that big who can move as fast as they do and are as agile as they are, that’s what blows my mind.”
Hayne was Australia’s star at the 2013 World Cup, scoring a hat- trick against Fiji, but this time the Titans utility is hellbent on sending the Kangaroos out of the tournament.
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga took a veiled swipe at Hayne, insisting his side isn’t missing the magic that has ignited Fiji after their shock 4- 2 defeat of the Kiwis last week.
“I’m very happy with my 24,” said Meninga when asked about Hayne’s selection for Fiji. “I have no regrets whatsoever ( with the squad he picked).
“We won’t be complacent, we won’t be underestimating Fiji. They realise they are facing a superpower but they slayed a giant last week.”