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.
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.”
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.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@MO You obviously don't understand how contracts work. It's in every players contract they can't work for someone else unless they have permission of the employer. Kerevi knows that and only was allowed to play 7s cos RA agreed to it
MO
Guest
I read that he promised the boys in the 7s program. Keeping a promise is a legit reason to play a game. You can get injured getting out of bed.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@Mo What's the relevance of the Olympics to this who cares Comm Games - there isn't any. Olympics is a big deal - Comm Games is low level. We don't know exacly what was said between 7's organisation and Kerevi but it always needed RA ok cos he's contracted to RA. RA have made another (in a long list) of stupid incompetent decisions in risking Kerevi. He got injured, Aust failed to win medal. WBs battle Los Pumas without Kerevi and everyone loses :unhappy:
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@Cam You're in hopeful fantasy land :silly: Aust men's team missed out on a medal as usual and were never a good chance of getting one. It was crazy RA risked Kerevi for it and now everyone loses. Australia wins so many medals at the low standard Commonwealth Games most aussies can't even remember it was staged a week later. And you and your family are hardly a viable sample size. Neither am I, but I'd take a series win in Argentina over 10 GOLD medals in Comm Games :laughing:
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@PeterCThird Hey even if australia won 10 Commonwealth Games GOLD medals I'd swap them all for a series win in Argentina. And WBs have had problems for 15 yrs. Did you watch how they went in Europe last November without Kerevi. RA were crazy for risking him in Burmingham :sick: :unhappy:
ScrumStability
Roar Rookie
I would like to think we have the depth to handle his absence but given the inconsistent performances over the last test partially due to injuries I am nervous.
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
As noted elsewhere - stupid use of very expensive resources, but the suits get to strut their stuff on first class travel arrangements. Much worse reputational damage for NZRU. Wild fires at home while CEO schmoozes.
Mo
Guest
Wax head the Comm Games was Kerevi paying back for his trip to the Olympics. He promised the 7s program he’d play. The olympics is a bigger deal than not winning the rugby championship.
Cam
Roar Rookie
I think it changed names around 2014, but yes I do mean the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
IRB season?? Do you mean the Sevens World Series’ ?
Big A
Roar Rookie
absolute amateur hour isnt it Waxhead - we risk our best player at noone cares about Comm Games sevens tournament - unbelievable
jameswm
Roar Guru
How was that tackle in the air a yellow? Penalty of course. Ridiculous. But the Kenyan landed on his feet, then milked it as best he could (as did his teammates).
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
They like to throw long passes to people standing perfectly still. They should have sent McDermott instead.
TheOvalBall
Roar Rookie
I don't understand why RA would risk him playing in 7s?? He's a great centre in the 15 a side game and one of the best in the world, but I watched all the 7s games and he is just too big and slow. Now that young guy Dietrich Roache, he is a runner. You need more like him in amongst the other good players that you have
Cam
Roar Rookie
The Aussies have a good side, have been performing very well this IRB season and are as good a chance as any of walking away with gold. The goodwill and publicity for rugby with a Commonwealth Games gold medal would far outstrip a Wallabies win in Argentina. Sample size of one, my wife and kids have never sat through a test match, but have watched all the Aussie men’s and women’s 7s matches at the games.
PeterCtheThird
Guest
If the Wallabies’ chances of beating Argentina are, apparently, utterly dependent on one player, then Rugby Australia has bigger problems than Kerevi’s knee. And if Australia do “get lucky”, will you offer up at least a churlish “All right, I suppose”?
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
Which is exactly why I posted a few weeks ago here that RA are crazy for risking Kerevi in this low level tournament where Aust has very low chance of getting a medal. And even if they somehow got super lucky and Aust snared a Bronze - who cares ?? Chances of WBs beating Argentina in Argentina without Kerevi are low imo :crying:
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Credit where due. Watching free to air rugby has been a real pleasure. Also am liking the ability to replay some of the matches at a time of my choosing. 7plus is working out well in this household. [Disclosure: I have no affiliation with Channel 7, just wanted to acknowledge this is going well].