Fiji Sun

Vunivalu eyes return to stake Wallaby case

- Rugby Heaven

Sydney: Injured NRL convert Suliasi Vunivalu says he’s likely to return for the next Queensland Reds game and is intent on winning back respect after an inauspicio­us start to life in rugby union.

The Melbourne Storm winger starred in his side’s NRL grand final victory in October, despite spending almost six months away from his family in the club’s Sunshine Coast COVID-19 bubble.

But what seemed destined to be a smooth transition has been anything but, Vunivalu missing three of his unbeaten side’s seven wins this Super Rugby AU season, first because of suspension then due to a hamstring injury.

Part of a Wallabies’ 40-man camp in Sydney this week, Vunivalu’s arrival from rugby league has been trumpeted as a potential game-changer for the national side, who will play France and then potentiall­y host the Rugby Championsh­ip later this year.

While he has shown glimpses of brilliance in his few starts this season Vunivalu knows he’s running out of time to make an impression if he wants to be part of those Tests. And it’s partly his own doing, the 25-yearold set for a court date next weekend after being charged with common assault for allegedly striking a security guard in the face while intoxicate­d earlier this year. He missed the season opener as a result, the club also fining him and saying he had allegedly pushed the security guard.

“It was hard standing in front of them (my teammates) addressing them; not a good look being there just four weeks when that incident happened,” Vunivalu said on Monday. “He (coach Brad Thorn) said this is just a minor setback, but the only way it can get better is by what you do afterwards.

“So I just tried to keep my head down and show on the field that I’m better than that ... at that time I really wanted support, so him talking to me was really good.”

The Reds will host the domestic final on May 8 with Vunivalu a chance of collecting a dual-code double inside six months.- AAP

Crusaders still on track despite injuries

Christchur­ch: Scott Robertson is reasonably happy with the Crusaders’ progress although their win over the Hurricanes in Wellington at the weekend saw them losing the services of two experience­d players.

The defending Super Rugby Aotearoa champions haven’t been at their best the past couple of weeks and after going down at home to the Highlander­s in Round Six, they had to dig deep to claim a narrow 30-27 golden point win against the Hurricanes.

As the scoreline suggests, they had to fight for that result with All Blacks Joe Moody and Jack Goodhue leaving the field during the first half with foot and knee problems respective­ly.

Despite those injuries, Robertson is happy that his team are still sitting pretty atop the Super Rugby Aotearoa standings with two matches left to play – against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday and the Blues in Christchur­ch on April 25 – and they are on course to play in the final on May 8.

“We are 5-1, so we’re in a good position,” he said.

“It’s never going to be all smooth, there is going to be a bit of chaos in there, you’re going to have a few injuries, you’re going to be down, you’re going to get some calls from the refs and you’re not. That’s just part of it

 ?? Suliasi Vunivalu ??
Suliasi Vunivalu

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