Kerevi set big task on danger man
RUGBY UNION: Samu Kerevi has been backed by the Wallabies to play a crucial 80 minutes this weekend despite not starting in a Test since June.
Kerevi will be marking Wales’ most dangerous player, Jonathan Davies, in a battle that will have a huge bearing on the result in Cardiff.
Kerevi tore his bicep in a match for Queensland in July and initially was ruled out for the year but healed quicker than expected.
He returned to the Test arena a fortnight ago against the All Blacks and reminded all of his game-breaking abilities with some impressive runs in a 20-minute cameo off the bench.
With Reece Hodge and Tevita Kuridrani unavailable for the tour through injury, Kerevi is set to start in the No.13 jersey, with Israel Folau shifting to the back three once more.
Kerevi’s rival Davies has also just returned from long-term injury. The 2017 British & Irish Lions player of the series against the All Blacks injured his ankle playing against the Wallabies last November and returned to the Test arena only last weekend against Scotland, scoring a try in Wales’ 21-10 win.
The outside centre position is the most difficult to defend in, but defence coach Nathan Grey says Kerevi will be up to the task of playing the full game.
“Definitely, if he is picked in that position, no doubt at all ... he’s had that long lay-off but he showed in the 20 minutes he played against New Zealand in that second half what he can bring to the table, both sides of the ball, and that’s exciting,” he said.
Grey is well aware of the threat posed by Davies.
“I don’t think he has played against us that regularly, and I’m not disappointed that he hasn’t,” he said. — Jamie Pandaram