What former Wallabies star Samu Kerevi will bring to the Australian sevens team
Samu Kerevi's decorated career for Australia and Queensland makes him a potential X-factor player for the men's rugby sevens team in Tokyo.
The 27-year-old has returned from a season in Japan's Top League with Suntory Sungoliath to find himself in the hunt to win Olympic gold with the men's Sevens side.
An end to the domestic season in Japan saw the rampaging outside back looking for a return trip to Tokyo as the Australian men's and women's sides face Fiji and New Zealand in the Oceania Sevens this weekend.
Kerevi's blistering power in 15-a-side rugby was the catalyst for heavy interest from men's sevens coach Tim Walsh.
"There's no question, he was probably one of the world's best players at Test match level, those couple years ago, so you know he's a class player," Walsh said.
"He certainly fitted into the group straight away and he's always willing to learn, and all through COVID he was watching videos of sevens ... he really wanted to hit the ground running.
"It's sort of my job to find out what he can offer, which I think we know what it is but then, make sure it's the right thing for the team and he's doing everything he can to be able to offer that and put himself in the best position for selection."
For Kerevi, the dream of playing Sevens has been on his mind for some years.
He admits COVID-19's timing and moving away from the Australian scene was a difficult pill to swallow, but is grateful for the opportunity to represent his country again.
"It's always been on the cards and I think the timing of everything would just be the issue, but this time, everything just fell in line, and I'm just grateful to be part of the Sevens squad," he said.
"It's still special to represent Australia, I think it's still special to represent a whole nation of people just in a different format.
"I always cherish the jersey, I'll always be grateful for the opportunity. So, if do get to put it on you know I'll give it my all."
- Fraser Barton
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Aha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
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