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Former cross-code Wallabies star's advice to Suliasi Vunivalu ahead of Reds debut

Suliasi Vunivalu /Getty Images

His head will be spinning and his heart will be pumping but the simple advice for Suliasi Vunivalu from a man who’s been in his shoes is to “just get the ball and run”.

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Fresh off a starring hand in Melbourne’s NRL premiership victory last year, Vunivalu will debut for the Queensland Reds in Friday’s Super Rugby AU season opener against the NSW Waratahs.

Dual international Lote Tuqiri remembers his first taste of professional rugby for the NSW Waratahs in 2003, which came after 99 NRL games that included 56 tries and a premiership with Brisbane.

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“For sure I was over-thinking things. I remember looking up at the clock and looking at [teammate] Matt Burke wondering where to go,” he said.

“Doing things a hundred miles an hour and he’ll be blowing a bit.

“He’ll be very nervous coming back to a game he’s played before (as a schoolboy in Fiji and New Zealand) but on a big occasion at Suncorp Stadium, somewhere the Storm have had a lot of success, he won’t find it too hard.”

Former Waratahs winger Tuqiri scored 30 tries in a 67-test career for the Wallabies before returning to league.

Similarly built in their prime, he expects the aerial specialist to be just as damaging in rugby as long as he finds enough ball.

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“I reckon he’s got it, it’s there for him, he just needs to get his hands on the ball,” Tuqiri said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him come inside and working off the guys, which he did it a bit in rugby league.

“But I’d just be telling him to get the ball and run.”

Former Queensland and Australian centre Tim Horan saw Vunivalu first-hand in the Reds’ only trial game a fortnight ago.

“He’s an athlete and Super Rugby needs it,” he said.

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“It might take him some time to get the feel of the game, but he’s going to be a star and will adapt quicker than what people think.

“I’d be giving him some strict instructions in certain parts of the field, then once you get past half way and you’re attacking you give him that roving role to come off the fly-half or Jordan Petaia at outside centre to be involved.”

Vunivalu will be part of a Reds squad stacked with emerging Wallabies talent desperate for their first title since 2011 after losing to the Brumbies in last year’s domestic decider.

“This year’s got to be the year for the Reds; Brad Thorn’s fourth year (as coach) … they’ve got to win the final to be a success this year,” he said.

“This is the year; they’ve got to deliver and they know that.”

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RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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