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Kerevi set for Wallabies re-call against All Blacks

Samu Kerevi of the Wallabies. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Samu Kerevi will start for the Wallabies on Sunday, two years after his last appearance and a move to Japan he feared would end his Test career.

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The explosive tackle-buster will be named at inside centre against New Zealand in Perth, replacing Hunter Paisami who returned home for the birth of his child.

Former Queensland Reds captain Kerevi left Australian rugby in 2019 for a lucrative three-year deal with Japan’s Suntory Sungoliath.

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Wallabies Izack Rodda and Quade Cooper press conference

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Wallabies Izack Rodda and Quade Cooper press conference

He’s back in the Wallabies fold now thanks to a relaxation of the Giteau Law, the veteran of 33 Tests one of two overseas-based players allowed despite not meeting the 60-cap qualification.

It continues a busy off-season for the 27-year-old, who was a last-minute addition to Australia’s Olympic rugby sevens outfit.

He was arguably the side’s best player in Tokyo, reuniting with the Wallabies as soon as he exited quarantine on his return to Australia.

Kerevi has since done enough to earn a start under coach Dave Rennie for his first 15-a-side game since late May, Australia coming off back-to-back losses to the All Blacks in Auckland last month.

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Former Reds lock Izack Rodda, who left for a season in France but will play for the Western Force next season, is eyeing his first Test since the 2019 World Cup.

The lock is likely to come into the 23 for Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who also left camp to welcome a child, while Quade Cooper has been floated for a sensational return after four years in the international wilderness.

Cooper has placed selection pressure on 21-year-old five-eighth Noah Lolesio, who has worn the No.10 this year with fellow playmaker James O’Connor battling injury.

The Rugby Championship will move to Queensland after Sunday’s clash, with double headers on the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Townsville and Gold Coast again also featuring South Africa and Argentina.

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Tom 5 hours ago
Will Bristol's daredevil 'Bears-ball' deliver the trophy they crave?

Also a Bristol fan and echo your sentiments.


I love watching Bristol but their approach will only get them so far I think. Exeter played like this when they first got promoted to the prem and had intermittent success, it wasn't until they wised up and played a more balanced game that they became a consistently top side.


I really want Bristol to continue playing this brand of rugby and I don't mind them running it from under their posts but I don't think they need to do it every single time. They need to be just a little bit more selective about when and where on the pitch they play. Every game they put themselves under so much needless pressure by turning the ball over under their posts trying to do kamikaze moves when it's not required. By all means run it from your goal line if there is a chance for a counter attack, we all want to see Bristol running in 100m tries from under their posts but I think until they learn when to do it and when to be pragmatic, they are unlikely to win the premiership.


Defense has been a real positive from Bristol, they've shown a lot of improvement there... And I will say that I think this kamikaze strategy they employ is a very good one for a struggling side and could be employed by Newcastle. It's seems to have turned around Gloucester's fortunes. The big advantage is even if you don't have the biggest and best players, what you have is cohesion. This is why Scotland keep battering England. England have better individuals but they look muddled as a team, trying to play a mixed strategy under coaches who lack charisma, the team has no identity. Scotland come out and give it full throttle from 1-15 even if they struggle against the top sides, sides like England and Wales who lack that identity drown under the relentless will and synergy of the Scots. If Newcastle did the same they could really surprise some people, I know the weather is bad up there but it hasn't bothered the Scots. Bristol can learn from Scotland too, Pat is on to something when he says the following but Scotland don't play test matches like headless chickens. They still play with the same level of clarity and ambition Bristol do but they are much better at picking their moments. They needed to go back to this mad game to get their cohesion back after a couple of seasons struggling but I hope they get a bit wiser from matches like Leinster and La Rochelle.


“If there’s clarity on what you’re trying to do as a team you can win anything.”

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