All but ignored by Dave Rennie, Suliasi Vunivalu is banking on Eddie Jones to give him a better chance of making an impact as a Wallabies player.
The former NRL star is clearly someone Jones’ has targeted for special attention – the Wallabies coach taking a cattle prod to his first camp last month to make a point to the underachieving Reds player.
Vunivalu has struggled with injuries but that is just part of the reason he’s failed to stamp his authority in rugby since his high profile switch from Melbourne Storm.
While many thought Vunivalu might cut and run at the end of his contract this year, he’s believed to have signed an extension.
“I actually didn’t know about the cattle prod,” Vunivalu told the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday.
“When he mentioned it, I had to ask one of the boys next to me, ‘what do they use that for’?
“It’s funny. Eddie is a funny coach. He has some jokes in him. It’s made me run faster in the last few weeks.
“It was really quiet when he entered. We thought he was going to be really serious, but he was cracking jokes. Everyone enjoyed the camp. I took a lot from it and I know what I need to work on in my game.”
Vunivalu told the Herald that Jones had specific advice for him, along with the pantomime cattle prod prop.
“He just said, ‘mate, I want you to be you. Try and be yourself. You’re a try-scoring bloke. Go back to being that bloke. Don’t try and do other stuff. You’re getting away from your football’,” Vunivalu said.
Suliasi Vunivalu poses for a photo before an Australian Wallabies training session on June 21, 2022 in Sunshine Coast, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
“I thought, ‘it’s true’. I just have to do my job so I can help the team out.”
Vunivalu told the Herald swapping codes was the right call. “I stand by my decision,” Vunivalu said. “I’ve never been injured back-to-back. If you take [injuries] away, I was playing really good footy until I did my hammy a couple of times.
“Everyone wants to play in a World Cup. It’s always in my head. I want to represent Australia. If I do, it’s a big goal for me and my family. I have to put my head down, put the work in and let my footy play out.”
Tweaks Tahs must make
NSW Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon believes his side can maintain their late-season finals push if they can address minor inconsistencies ahead of an interstate clash with rivals Queensland.
The Waratahs (17 points) currently sit seventh on the Super Rugby Pacific standings just two points behind the Reds, who they face at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville on Saturday.
A win will see them gain valuable ground in the race for top-eight finals spots with the Highlanders (15 points) and Melbourne Rebels (14) in their rearview mirror.
Fresh off a last-gasp victory over the Highlanders in round 10, the ‘Tahs are hunting for back-to-back wins for the first time this season and looking to end Queensland’s recent streak at two.
The last time NSW strung consecutive victories was 15 matches ago in round 11 and 12 of 2022.
Gordon says any hopes of a successful tilt from the quarter-finals onwards will be hampered significantly if they can’t string together a complete performance now 11 rounds into the season.
“It’s getting towards the end of the year and we need to start being more consistent,” he told reporters on Friday.
“We spoke about that – we just really haven’t put an 80 minute performance together yet. We’ve been a little bit inconsistent starting halves and finishing as well.
(Photo by Pete Dovgan/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“Last week was a great result for us especially in a clutch moment like that to score in the 80th minute. It was good for the group.”
With Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones keeping a keen eye on performances ahead of this year’s World Cup, Gordon believes he still has work to do to earn a national call up.
When asked if he’s done enough to warrant selection, Gordon replied “not yet,” but backed his form as of late.
“I probably didn’t start the year the way I wanted to,” he added.
“I think I’ve been playing better of late. It’s a really short season.
“It’s a really important year for rugby. I think they need to pick the best players and I need to make sure I’m playing my best.”
All Blacks fingers crossed for Jordan
Crusaders and All Blacks fanshave fingers crossed that Will Jordan can make a trouble free return from his mysterious ailment this weekend.
Jordan has been sidelined for eight months with what has been variously categorised as an “inner ear issue” and a “migraine-related condition”.
He was expected to play against the Rebels recently only to pull out when his symptoms resurfaced, and the Crusaders are hoping he can make it to the field this time against the Force.
“There’s natural frustration. He wants to play, he’s a rugby player, and he’s trained just as much as everyone else, and he just didn’t feel right,” Crusaders coach Scott Robertson said.
“With these things, there are no rules.
“There is no ‘you’re going to wake up this day [and feel fine]’, or return to play in six weeks like a hamstring. It’s a head, and it goes on feeling, and he’s feeling good. Good enough at the moment.”
Robertson indicated Jordan could still face issues.
“We’ll get through this week and we’ll answer that question after he’s played,” Robertson said when asked if Jordan remained a week-by-week prospect.
He added: “He can kick, he can run, he can read a game. He can anticipate things.
“It’s been a big six months for Will. He’s just got better and better, he chose this game after having a couple of really good training weeks.
“He’s prepared well, it’s good timing with a home game, afternoon. All those things just added up and the timing is right. We’re really pleased for him, it’s been tough, and he’s ready.”
Where the Super W final will be won and lost
Both Fijiana Drua and the Queensland Reds have cited winning the collision as means to triumphing in the Super W grand final.
Saturday’s decider at Queensland Country Bank Stadium shapes as the Drua’s opportunity to win back-to-back titles in just their second year.
For the Reds, it is their fifth final after losing four to the NSW Waratahs and a shot at glory after going close so many times before.
Drua coach Inoka Male likened Townsville’s hot and humid conditions to Fiji and said his players feel at home in their preparations.
But aside from favourable weather, Male says his forward pack have learnt some harsh lessons from their recent 45-22 loss in the final round to Queensland.
“There was a lot of miscommunication in that game and our defence is fully prepared now,” Male told AAP.
“We’ve watched that game back and the most recent game the Reds have played and will put that into action on Saturday.
“The difference will be the physicality on the field – the team that is more physical will win.”
Reds captain Shannon Parry spoke to the same tune on Friday, indicating both forward packs will dictate how and where the contest is won.
Parry said being the underdogs is exactly the motivation her side need to win their maiden title.
“Matching them up front is going to be the first challenge for us,” said Parry.
“We know if we can retain the ball and retain that pressure it will go a long way to getting the result we’re after.
“They’re the reigning champions. They won it last year in their first year of the competition.
“For us, we’re happy to take the underdog tag and just go out there and play some footy tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully we can do Queensland proud.”
Mitchell decision a ‘huge missed opportunity’
Former All Blacks and Western Force mentor John Mitchell will leave his position as defence coach for Japan’s men’s team after the Rugby World Cup to take over as head coach of England’s women’s team.
England’s Rugby Football Union announced the upcoming arrival of Mitchell on Thursday and the decision has drawn criticism, including from former England men’s coach Clive Woodward.
It will mark Mitchell’s return to England after spells with the men’s national team as forwards coach from 1997-2000 and defence coach from 2018-21.
Mitchell was head coach of the New Zealand team at the 2003 World Cup after taking over in 2001.
He guided the Western Force in Australia from 2006-10 among several club head coach roles and was coach of US men’s teams in 2016-17.
Mitchell succeeds Simon Middleton, whose trophy-laden eight-year spell ended with another women’s Six Nations Grand Slam last weekend.
The black mark on Middleton’s reign was two World Cup final defeats to New Zealand and Mitchell’s main target will be to claim the prize on home soil in two years’ time.
Woodward argued that Mitchell’s appointment was “a huge missed opportunity by the RFU”, adding it was a staggering decision by the RFU.”
“They have not only let their women’s team down, but also women’s sport by not choosing a female successor to Simon Middleton. Once again, it shows the RFU’s lack of vision.”
Woodward said that while England had done so much right with its program for elite women, there should have been “two criteria for the Red Roses top job. First, the appointee must be female. Second, that person would, ideally, be English.
“Instead, they’ve gone for Mitchell. He has lots of international experience, but when was the last time he was a head coach? It smacks of jobs for the boys, a decision made by male figures at the RFU. This would not have happened at other organisations.”
(With AAP)
