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Kerevi sends injury scare through sevens camp as Aussie sides reach Commonwealth Games knockouts

Edmund Anya of Team Kenya is tackled by Dietrich Roache of Team Australia. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/2022 Getty Images)
30th July, 2022
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Australia’s men’s rugby sevens team remains undefeated after three Commonwealth Games matches, but a Samu Kerevi injury will set up a nervous wait for both the team and the Wallabies watching on.

The Wallabies star limped off with a right knee injury during a tense 7-5 win over Kenya, with the Aussies forced to dig deep as both Mark Nawaqanitawase and Nathan Lawson received yellow cards for crude tackles.

With Dave Rennie undoubtedly watching on with bated breath, Kerevi moved to calm concerns after the match, telling reporters in Birmingham the knee ‘feels alright’.

“I’m always confident [to be fit to play] but I’ll get a doc on it and see. It was just a big bang but then once it settled down it was fine.”

Up next is a sudden death clash with Samoa to reach the last four, who threw away an early lead to relinquish top spot in their pool to New Zealand.

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Having trailed 0-5 heading into half time, the Aussies looked in trouble when Lawson was given his marching orders for a dangerous tackle; however, down a man, a game-breaking run from Corey Toole would prove a decisive play.

Kerevi said addressing ill discipline would be a major focus for the team heading into the match.

We’ve been put in some tough spots in the last couple of games and been able to nullify that.

“But the refs are looking at that; we’ve just got to be smarter. 

“We just want to ride that wave, but yesterday [drawing with Uganda] was a real wake-up call for us.”

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The Aussies face Samoa at 6:30am (AEST) on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, the women’s team’s upset loss to Fiji has set up a crunch clash with bitter rivals New Zealand in the semi-finals.

Seen as a potential finals match-up, a dominant first half from the Fijians, taking a 12-0 lead into the break thanks to a last-gasp try from Sesenieli Donu, proved decisive.

Australia’s flurry of tries late for Maddison Levi and Demi Hayes never looked likely to threaten the match, the Aussies defeated for the first time this tournament and relinquishing top spot in their pool.

They face the Kiwis at 4:40am (AEST) on Sunday morning.

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