Seven years after he rejected his parents’ advice to stay home and become a prison officer in Fiji – telling them he wanted to “play for Australia”- the Queensland Reds backrower is edging closer to his Wallaby dream.
Enjoying new found freedom to express himself under Les Kiss, Uru scored a try double in the impressive win over the Rebels last weekend, prompting former Wallaby Matt To’omua to push his Wallaby claims on The Roar Rugby Podcast.
“The Reds back row have been great. And for me, Seru Uru has been unbelievable,” To’omua said.
“I thought probably a year or two ago, this guy could easily wear a gold jersey. And then on the weekend you saw it. A very complete performance from him.
“He reminds me a lot of Scott Fardy and not just because of the headgear, but just he’s really good at his breakdown work. His defence is very good, but then he pops up in offload positions. He reads the game very well.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
“Fardy wasn’t the most athletic guy, but he would pop up in positions because he could just read the game. I think Seru Uru’s got that about him. And I’m super excited. I think he’s got a gold jersey this year.”
To’omua said he was also reminded of former Brumbies and Force backrower Lachie McCaffrey when he watches Uru – who has represented Australia A recenlty.
“He’s a jumping back rower in my mind. He reminds me of Fardy and McCaffrey, guys who just read the play very, very well,” To’omua said.
“He’s not your abrasive second rower who’s going to set the tone like a Bakkies Botha but he adds an extra element to the game, whether it be from six or whether it be later in the match when it starts to open up.”
Having played in the Fiiji under 20s for three years straight, Uru was set to undergo a course to become a prison guard in Lautoka. He’d applied for a visa to Australia and it came through just in time.
While his folks wanted him to stay for the steady job, Uru thought “nah, I’m not going to go. I want to play for Australia.”
Uru, who first caught the eye during the Reds’ run to the 2021 Super Rugby AU title, has packed on 10kg in his time at the club and at 27 appears to be hitting his peak.
“As I came in, I was really light,” Uru said on Tuesday. “It wasn’t the perfect weight to be playing around in Super Rugby so I had to put on weight. And I feel confident. I feel strong, I would say, in the weight.
And I’m really happy running around the field with the weight.”
He’s shown the ability to sniff out a try in support as well, and says Kiss has injected some “fun” into the Reds style.
“I would say it is a fun thing. But for me, it has been there in the past years, we just we haven’t been using it a lot.
“Thankfully the coaches now, they just let us do what we love to do. Be skillful. Don’t be afraid to do what you love to do. If there’s a chance to offload or do a pass, just do it. Be confident in what you do.
“As you can see, the boys are really loving it. Playing the kind of footy that we love to do. (And being physical, being skillful.”
With new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt saying this week that he wants to reward consistency when picking his teams this season, Uru knows he needs to keep his form ticking over. But so far, so good.
“I’ve just been happy with how I’m going, where I’m at,” said Uru. “And there’s still a few improvements in there, still a few fixes in my games.
“But I’m really happy with how I’m going and with how the team is going.”
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Nah. Always under Rennie. He only got 5 chances. He then missed most Super Rugby in 20021 and 2022 so wasn't in the frame for selection.
Wolla Wotsa
Roar Rookie
A couple under Rennie he was just passable, nothing special, he never ” always played well under Rennie ” He most often than not was a passenger.
Dualcode
Roar Rookie
A waiting game pretty much on when his dream will finally be realized, and he's really honest too on wanting to play for Australia so we'll see if he impresses Joey himself to earn a gold and green jersey.
Mike88
Roar Rookie
Wolla was talking about this season and realistically more than a one off. Agree beating local rivals is also important.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Hanigan always played well under Rennie
Wolla Wotsa
Roar Rookie
Didn`t the Reds conquer the Chiefs in NZ last year. Anyway i think smashing your local rivals is more important for test selection as you are obviously better than them and deserve a gold jersey. Reds v Waratahs, Reds v Rebels for eg.
Keggy
Roar Rookie
Agreed.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Yep, early days Holloway was an attempted at that big ball carrier 8 that we had had for so many years. To me I also think he is just to slow and the game keeps getting faster so best to leave him at lock and we seem to have a bit of competition at lock now. See what game Joe wants to play. Hannigan we are on the same page. Guy works hard etc but he is not a Test level player and has no business being in lock
Keggy
Roar Rookie
Maybe Seru he can be our Victor Matfield he wasn`t an overly big man but had great hands great lineout operator and was mobile, all what Seru has.
Keggy
Roar Rookie
Wasn`t Jed Holloway an 8 or 6 when he was at the Tahs in his early days then when he came back they turned him into a lock because he was too slow for a loosie. I still reckon he is not capable at either. On Hanigan he is neither a test 6 or lock. Passable at super level at both, but has been found out bigtime at test level. I don`t rate his test game at all to be honest.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Did Pete really cover 6,7 and 8 or he just played his normal game from 3 different spots?
Olly
Roar Rookie
I agree with Hannigan but not with Holloway. He is a lock who they pretend is a backrow to me. In saying that, I am not sure I would pick Holloway.
KDizzle
Roar Rookie
Similar themes coming out of Ireland dressing room. Maybe also a little ‘my way’ vibes. Imagine that from a H coach?! Wallabies of the past have not taken well to such management styles… are we a bit French-revolt-like?
Bennett
Roar Rookie
Uru ticks all the boxes for a bench forward.
Bennett
Roar Rookie
Uru will be in Smokin Joes squad. Where he plays in another matter.
Keggy
Roar Rookie
If that`s the case for Uru, Holloway and Hanigan cannot be selected at lock for the Wallabies as they are blindside flankers.
Keggy
Roar Rookie
Swinton is a Penalty and card magnet with zero workrate and butter fingers. Schmidt will have noted this.Hanigan well, he has been a trier at test level over 7 years, but really he just a State level player.
Keggy
Roar Rookie
Coker, Jed Holloway came to mind when i read that.
Geoff K
Roar Rookie
Olly Bigger and still as quick over the turf. Schmidt must like what he sees in the Seru.He has good hands for an offload or pass for a big man, doesn`t tuck it under the arm like other candidate's we have seen wear the Wallaby 6 jersey over the last couple of years, workrate sublime, superb lineout operator, good defender, disciplined player. ( very important in the modern game ) and backs up breaks like a number 7 to score meat pies.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
The 6/lock is required IMO. And yes Ned has never stepped up at test level. But he has also never played 3 consistently good games at super level in a row either which I think he has. If he keeps up the form I’d give him a shot.