Two-try star Tevita Kuridrani has set up a classic big man-small man duel with James O’Connor for the Wallabies outside centre berth at the Rugby World Cup.
Tevita Kuridrani has backed him and Samu Kerevi to get it right if given another chance to form a power-packed midfield combination for the Wallabies.
Experienced outside centre Kuridrani bludgeoned his way into contention for selection in the big Rugby World Cup games to come with a man of the match performance in the 45-10 dissection of Uruguay in Oita on Saturday.
Kuridrani bagged two tries and registered game-high numbers of 120m run and nine defenders beaten.
It’s a performance that pleased the Brumbies powerhouse, mainly because he hadn’t played for more than two months, a chunk of which was spent recovering from a hamstring injury.
“For me, it’s trying to prove that I’ve still got it with this performance and put my hand up for selection,” Kuridrani said.
The more subtle attacking skills of James O’Connor were favoured the opening win over Fiji and the loss to Wales.
With vice-captain Kerevi a lock at inside centre, coach Michael Chieka has favoured the complementary skills of O’Connor at the tournament rather than put two Fijian-born power runners side by side.
Kerevi and Kuridrani started together in the two season-opening Tests – a loss to South Africa in Johannesburg and flattering win over Argentina in Brisbane.
While the pair failed to fire, Kuridrani believed they had learned plenty from the experience.
“Maybe at the start of the Rugby Championship we didn’t understand our roles a little bit,” Kuridrani said.
“But I reckon, for me especially, I’ve understood my role, what I need to do for the team.
“If we get given the change again, I reckon it will be more different than when we started.”
Cheika considered Kuridrani’s explosive performance had him will in the mix for next week’s final pool game against Georgia and then, possibly, the knockout phase matches.
He said the 29-year-old had every opportunity to force selection.
“We’ve shown a bit more horses for courses in this tournament already,” Cheika said.
“We can have a James-type player as well at fullback, in the centre, and James has been playing well too. It’s a good contest.
“This was Tevita’s first game back and he’s certainly done himself no harm at all in selection going forward.”
Cheika said a corked thigh that ruled O’Connor out of a bench role in Saturday’s match was expected to heal quickly.
Lara
Guest
When the time comes to play the Poms, both K’s should start. Farrell will have a nightmare with these two running at him, he won’t want to run, kick n pass as quickly as possible will be his game. Target Farrell, force him to tackle....and the card will come, rough him up, upset him n the Poms will misfire. Get White n CLL to start, sure hands n mind. DHP at FB to look after the highball. Toomua for CLL at the 50 min mark. The wings will be the other K n the young fella....enough pace, little bit worried about the highball, but they will be ok with DHP looking after them.The forwards will be ok, set pieces n tackle everything. Play smart n don’t listen to Cheika is my advice.
Margaret Freemantle
Roar Rookie
Nope -White will lose it for us -he single handedly lost the final for the Brumbies against the Chiefs . Lealiifano gives the best chance always to those outside him
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
It seems to me that the wallabies, and most top teams in the cup, work best when powering in close early on before picking up the pace out wide as the heat and physicality take its toll on the opposition. So I’m a big fan of kerevi powering over the gainline early on before being subbed for Kuridrani in the wider channel later in the game. I’m back and forth on our best 10, but CLL has taken an absolute battering so I think my preferred backs for the finals would be: 9. White 10. Toomua 11. Koroibete 12. Kerevi 13. O’Connor 14. Hodge 15. DHP 21. Genia 22. CLL 23. Beale That being said, I’m keen for Petaia to force his way in!
jeznez
Roar Guru
The one combination we haven’t seen yet is O’Connor 12 and Kuridrani 13. Would like to see that against Georgia if JOC is over his cork.
Zenn
Roar Rookie
On October 4th 2019 @ 2:56pm, I wrote Perhaps its too early to be considering the WBs backline against Georgia. An aptly left of field suggestion is to select Kerevi on the wing for Georgia outside Kuridani resulting in the following backline: 9 NW 10 MT 11 MK 12 JOC 13 TK 14 SK 15 DHP Bench 21 WG 22 CLL 23 KB to which Nicholas Bishop replied Can’t see Kerevi defending on the wing against anyone half-decent I’m afraid Z! Perhaps the defensive problem is solved by playing #13 SK and #14 SK against Georgia. WBs may even consider Petaia at 23.
stu
Guest
Tevita is ok. Looked good against Uruguay, but has notoriously average handling and passing skills. As an OC only, I can't see him adding to a team that already has SK and MK. No way is TK world xv quality.
Rhino11
Roar Rookie
I agree with you. Kerevi isn’t the ‘lock’ anymore particularly on the back of some poor handling & his lack of offloads to players in better positions. I liked what I saw with Toomua at 12 & TK at 13 yesterday. Imagine having these 2 starting and at 50 mins CLL comes off , MT slots into 5/8 & Kerevi comes on to carve things up! MT offers a lot more with a cut pass to both Petaia & Koroibete or DHP. All of a sudden the backline looks fast again!
jeznez
Roar Guru
I'm not sure SK is a lock, despite his strengths the backline isn't firing and he is part of that. 9. White 10. Lealiifano or To'omua 11. Koroibete 12. To'omua, Kerevi or O'Connor 13. O'Connor or Kuridrani 14. Petaia or Hodge 15. Haylett-Petty 21. Genia 22. To'omua, O'Connor or Kerevi 23. Beale Looks to be the locked and options to me. Both of Lealiifano and To'omua need to be in the 23, the key options are then how to split the centres and 22 spot.
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
I think you’re sacrificing defence to cram ball runners in, with two players playing out of position.
SD
Guest
You cant leave out MK and SK they are locked in.Tough decisions for the Clown.
Bobbles
Guest
Best backs for the big games. 9 Genia 10 CLL 11 MK 12 SK 13 TK 14 JP 15 DHP White Toomua JOC/KB tough one to pick.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Kerevi can’t pass. Kuridrani can, JOC is brilliant. Kuridrani must have a passer inside him. So too Kerevi, AAC and Koreibeti. Let’s unleash them instead of plonking around with slow coaches. I have waited for evidence on Petaia. Still to see his defence but he looks good to me.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
No not our most complete 13 and one of our two World Class players. Kuridrani ; Powerful defender and straight runner, good hands. Kerevi ; Powerful runner , poor hands , no pass. OC ; Doesn’t run, poor defender brilliant pass, can kick. White 9, Lealiifano 10 , JOC 12, Kuridrani 13, Koreibeti 11, Kerevi 14 and Beale 15. Bench Genia and two out of Toomua, AAC and Petiai.
Botticelli
Guest
Tevita is a Star. Why not play Kirebiti at 11, Tevita at 12, O’Connor at 13 and Kerivi at 14 and DHP or Beale at 15. This way you have 2 play makers, 3 very strong ball runners and a smart full back who knows positional play and regularly breaks the line. Very strong backline. Surely Cheika can’t leave out Tevita. He’s incredible. Probably one player in WB that would make a world 15. Great attacker and great defender.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
The key question is whether we can afford to have two players in the backline that rarely pass the ball - K and K. The answer to that is probably no.