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PARIS – Suliasi Vunivalu says he hopes his breakout match against France in Paris puts pressure on regular first-choice wingers Marika Koroibete and Mark Nawaqanitawase. But if he isn’t selected for their World Cup opener against Georgia on September 9, the cross-code winger won’t cry over spilt milk.
Vunivalu was one of the few shining lights coming out of the Wallabies’ 41-17 defeat to Les Blues at Stade de France on Sunday evening.
In front of 80,000 spectators, Vunivalu finally showed what Eddie Jones had long hoped to see.
The 27-year-old scored a try, made three breaks out wide and looked a changed man from the confused and lost figure that cut a forlorn figure only six weeks ago in Pretoria.
Suli Vunivalu finally showed what he’s capable of producing against France. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
Indeed, his performance somewhat vindicated Jones’ strong show of faith for including him in his 33-man Wallabies World Cup squad.
It wasn’t just Vunivalu’s running game that was on show against France, with the former NRL tryscoring machine twice getting past Gabin Villiere in the first half after the Wallabies cleverly played the short side, but his work in the air.
Together with wing partner Nawaqanitawase, the Wallabies had an aerial threat not quite used since Israel Folau dominated the skyline.
Two of the Wallabies’ three tries came directly from box kicks in the opposition 22, with Nawaqanitawase first batting the ball backward ahead of Fraser McReight’s try in the 61st minute.
Then, in the minutes before full time, Vunivalu used his physical strength to ensure Issak Fines-Leleiwasa’s perfectly executed box kick near France’s 22 metre line didn’t go to waste after brilliantly calling for the play.
They were examples of a player starting to find his feet on the biggest stage after years of teething problems.
Jones admitted Vunivalu “couldn’t blow a candle out” during Super Rugby but was starting to find his feet.
“I was thinking about the number of players that are improving. We’ve got more players improving than declining. Suli is one,” Jones said.
His Super Rugby and Test teammate Tate McDermott said the Wallabies needed more players prepared to fight and deliver to stand a chance going forward.
“Really happy for Suli, he’s come a long way,” McDermott said.
“He’s had a tough old journey, particularly in the gold jersey, but he was outstanding today.
“We need more people like him turning up, wanting to put the jersey on and wanting to play for their country.”
Former Test centre turned pundit Morgan Turinui said Vunivalu had repaid Jones’ faith and added that he had benefitted from the Wallabies bringing him into the game early.
“He hasn’t picked him on any evidence whatsoever,” Turinui said.
“If you’re picking him on what we’ve seen, and he’s had an injury plagued time at the Reds, you couldn’t pick him. So, Eddie Jones has shown confidence in him. He’s in his World Cup squad.
“Then, if you watch the way the Wallabies played, they found him early in the game.
“We played with lots of wingers, Wendell [Sailor], Lote [Tuqiri], Joe Roff, it doesn’t matter who it is and what their background is, your X factor players, your Mark Nawaqanitawases, your Suliasi Vunivalus, you have to get them early touches to get them into the game and after that his confidence grew.”
Suli Vunivalu and Andrew Kellaway were unable to stop Gabin Villiere from scoring a try. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
His starring role was in stark contrast to his struggles in South Africa last month, where he was exposed defensively and rarely found the ball.
Yet, despite some nerves about playing in front of a packed house, Vunivalu said he felt confident heading into the Test, knowing he had performed strongly at training.
“Walking out at the captain’s run, I couldn’t believe we were playing on this field. Another country, but I was feeling pumped. I was confident. I knew I’d play well,” he said.
Given Nawaqanitawase has been arguably the Wallabies’ best player this year and Koroibete is likely to return against Georgia, Vunivalu is likely to miss selection for their World Cup opener.
Disappointed? Yep. Angry? No.
“If I put pressure on both of them, it makes them try and perform better. If they play better, I’m just doing what’s best for the team,” Vunivalu said.
“If I can put pressure on them, they play better are they going to try and perform better.
“Whatever is good for the team, I’ll back it. I want them to play good and whatever opportunity comes up, I’ll take it.”
Unlike the majority of the Wallabies, Vunivalu is one of the few players in the squad who has regularly tasted success.
A two-time NRL premiership winner with the Melbourne Storm, Vunivalu scored in their most recent triumph in 2020.
Vunivalu said he was confident the Wallabies had the talent in the squad to make a long, unexpected run in the World Cup but admitted they needed to execute better.
“I have no doubt with this group where this [campaign can] end. We have a good connection with this group. The World Cup is anyone’s game,” he said.
“We’ve got it in us. We just need that tiny bit of [finishing ability] We get ourselves in good positions, but we just never execute. We either knock on or give the ball back. If we can go up there and get points out of it, we’ll be good.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.