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.”
Joe
Roar Rookie
Vunivalu was good but I think he still can get a lot better. EJ has one part of the equation with the tall aerial attack wings...the other part where he needs an accurate kicker to take advantage of said wingers is missing.
John Ferguson
Expert
Hey Qualify glad you are after some analysis on the game, a piece next week will look at all the Wallabies aspects and where things truly are, videos and images will be a part of the analysis, stay tuned. :thumbup:
John Ferguson
Expert
Hey Rugbynutter, I literally wrote: I am very happy Suli played well, for his sake and for ours as supporters. However, I am not getting carried away, he did what he was supposed to do He played well and am happy for him but I also want to go as far as we can in the World Cup and that requires top shelf stuff. He did play well but it's all comparative to how he has played in the past. He is improving that's it.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Suli vindicated? Nope, not yet anyway! It’s just one game & he was again poor in defence. Maybe, hopefully no howlers for Suli in RWC. For WB as a whole it will be the defensive skills that win titles and it looks like our points against has increased by almost 50% from last year. With a different balance to low possessions game perhaps that points against changes, plus the kicking which is a killer as it’s pressuring our defence. For example, Tate’s clearing kick out of our end goal, that has to go out every time in those circumstances! I get looking for positives but rugby is played on both sides of the ball and not just in attack so no Marky hasn’t been WB best player with plenty of poor misreads. Bobby V has been in the thick of it with more positive involvements on both sides of the ball.
Qualify
Roar Rookie
Hi John. Hoping we will see some of your analysis after this game. Especially with regards to our defense out wide. A couple of time we were bunching up in the middle (Foketi especially) without rushing to block the passes out wide. Makes no sense?
Qualify
Roar Rookie
Even if it is predictable, you can't stop him if the kick is accurate. Too tall, leaps high and has amazing hands. Our kickers need to improve.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Vunivalu did very well on attack. But he’s the same mistake Eddie made with Wendell. The RWC is too soon for him. Like his yellow on Sat, however “unlucky”, his mistakes will bite us. And it’s too much risk defensively to have both him and MW together. Attack alone won’t win us the world cup! And we are missing Ikitau massively!
Rugbynutter
Roar Rookie
While Suli is behind marky and Koroibete but with gap closing..he at least offered more in this game then seen from the rocks and diamonds player called wright left out You can critic a lot of players but he was actually on balance one of the top performers for wallabies in that game… Why can’t we at least enjoy the moment when a player does perform…gosh us wallabies supporters are a negative bunch
Rugbynutter
Roar Rookie
Tooly I am a little disappointed with the vunivalu comment. No need for the negative when he played a good game. Us arm chairs hammer a player when down but heck shouldn’t we be a little more positive when they do show the talent and skills we are looking for.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
No rugby league had poached all our centre pairings prior Cook Burke Papworth Grant.. up stepped Horan Little two 19 year Olds.
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
Mike,The only problem with Jorgensen dropping out,is I understand you cannot replace a player if he succumbs to an injury carried into the tournament.He would have to fake a different injury and I doubt if that will happen.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Im unfamiliar with his squad Wizz but did he not take older more experienced players in their respective positions?
Wizz
Roar Rookie
I didn't mind the kick to corner but with the rolling maul not doing much get it wide..Or at least set up couple of boppers running midfield and hope quick ruck ball and spin it..
whistleblower (retired)
Roar Rookie
I would love to know how the newbies, who lined up for the anthems the other day, felt as first our anthem and then La Marseillaise. Maybe it is out there in twitter or the other one but I do not subscribe to either - deliberately. I do however, live vicariously in their shoes.
piru
Roar Rookie
“We played with lots of wingers"</em Yeah usually two per team I reckon
Tooly
Roar Rookie
I finally went for a long hike while STANS preview was on and then watched the game . . Kellaway tried but made a lot of errors . . The wingers were no better than they would be expected to play except Vunivulu who has never really played rugby . At least he tried to for once . . The centres were SH particularly Fekoti . . The halves are not test standard . Except for Fines who will be if used . . Valentini was awesome . If only he had Samu to back him up . . Hooper really isn’t up to test rugby . . McReight woke up in the last 30 minutes . . Richie did his job . . Skeleton barely broke into a jog . . The starting front row did well . France had the game well under control . They play to win .
Mike88
Roar Rookie
I'm certainly not discrediting Jorgenson who played well in the first half of SR and has a huge future in front of him. But like you say he's injured. He has a cruciate knee injury. Exactly what benefit is there of picking him and risking him? Eddie has invented this first 15 and then 5 good blokes selection caper. Successful teams are not picking that way. He really should look at some of the things successful coaches are doing rather than sell his version of what a RWC squad looks like with that in the know eyebrow raised.
John Ferguson
Expert
:laughing:
Joffrey
Roar Rookie
Kellaway also mopped up after Mark N a few times.
Spunkmeyer
Roar Rookie
Both Wallaby wingers cannot tackle. That is a bad thing.