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Samu Kerevi defies Rugby Australia resting programme to inspire Reds season

Samu Kerevi. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Queensland captain Samu Kerevi will front up again as the plucky Super Rugby side attempts to win a fifth game in seven matches on Friday night.

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The Wallabies centre revealed on Thursday he refused to be rested against the Sharks a fortnight ago, a decision that was validated by his man-of-the-match performance in a crucial, drought-breaking Durban win.

Kerevi has been a constant standout in the Reds (4-5) up and down season but will be ordered to miss two games at some point this season in accordance with Rugby Australia’s World Cup workload management plan.

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But, fresh from the bye, he has no plans to ease up against the Sunwolves at Suncorp Stadium, with the Reds now just one win behind Australian conference leaders Melbourne.

“I wanted to play (in Durban). The coaches had planned for me to rest but I felt it was important to be part of that week, put my hand up,” he said.

“(The win) really instilled a lot of belief – I’ve only won once b efore that in South Africa – I was really happy for them.”

Queensland’s season looked dead and buried when they trailed the Sunwolves 21-5 at halftime in Tokyo and appeared on track for a fourth straight loss to start the season.

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Brad Thorn’s men found something in the second half to escape with a three-point win and are now legitimately in the hunt for a finals berth with seven games to play.

The Reds’ next fortnight sees them away to the Rebels then home against the Waratahs, but Kerevi is doing his best to not look past this weekend’s hurdle.

“Three conference games, looking at it as a three-week block but we have to focus on this week,” he said

“Sunwolves are a great team, we’ve got to come with the right mindset when it comes to tomorrow night.”

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Reds assistant ahead of the Sunwolves’ clash:

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Nickers 28 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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