Samu Kerevi has ironed out inconsistencies to become a top operator, writes Ben Coles

For the Wallabies, the worst aspect of Samu Kerevi developing into a world-class centre over the past two years is the fact that he is about to leave Australia behind.

Kerevi, cousin of former Australia international Radike Samo, signed up to a three-year contract with Suntory in Japan earlier this year and is scheduled to join the Top League powerhouse after the World Cup on a reported salary of about £630,000 per year, allegedly a third more than Rugby Australia’s best offer.

Losing key assets is nothing new for Australia but the fact that Kerevi, a tackle-busting behemoth of an inside centre, at 26 years old is just about to enter his prime means his departure will sting more than most.

“It is a loss, a big loss. A shame to lose him when he is right at the peak of powers, rather than two to three years down the line,” admits Rod Kafer, the former Wallaby international and Leicester Tigers back. “Samu gives you that ability, genuinely, to beat people one on one, either by going over the top of them or around them. He has very good feet for a man who is 109kg, he is very fast, with an excellent offload.”

Kerevi has also become the mainstay of Australia’s midfield amid confusion at both half-back and outside centre. Michael Cheika has regularly chopped and changed his half-backs this year in search of a winning combination.

There was a case for a younger Kerevi (below) to go to the 2015 World Cup as a bolter, but defensive inconsistencies needed to be ironed out. Huge strides in that area, and moving from outside to inside centre, have transformed him into a top operator.

His numbers this year highlight that increased influence on Australia’s attack, posting careerhigh figures in 2019 for carries, metres made, clean breaks, defenders beaten and offloads.

“Samu is absolutely world-class, right at the peak of his powers,” Kafer says. “Manu Tuilagi is a fantastic footballer on his day, in a similar vein to Kerevi. As that big, go-forward guy, Samu brings you a deft short-passing game and is a really impressive player.”

The other area where the Wallabies will miss Kerevi significantly is his leadership. Appointed as captain of the Queensland Reds ahead of this year’s Super Rugby season, Brad Thorn, the Reds head coach, praised Kerevi’s “humble and hard-working” outlook.