Kerevi reflects on Wallabies growth under Schmidt as side looks for confidence-boosting win

Tue, Nov 5, 2024, 2:31 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Samu Kerevi benefits from a smooth backline move

Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi is impressed with the growth under coach Joe Schmidt as they look to start their Grand Slam tour with a win.

Kerevi linked up with the squad in Sydney before they travelled to the UK before Sunday's (AEDT) first game against England.

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The centre has not featured in a camp under Schmidt, last pulling on the gold jersey at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

“I think Joe’s brought a different aspect to the way we want to play the game. Just being in the last couple weeks, I’ve seen the skill set of the boys go to another level," Kerevi told reporters.

“They’ve already had but the way and tempo that we play it, it’s just been getting that detail around our game again with three coaches in the last years so just understanding that.

“The boys haven’t had a lot of time for Joe to come in and change everything so there’s been a lot of adapting in the last couple of weeks.

With Hunter Paisami (calf) not making the trip to England, Kerevi is likely to feature heavily under Schmidt and was impressed with what he's seen so far.

“For myself, just seeing the way Joe wants to play…everything’s an attacking game around the kicking game, the way we want to move to ball but also in and around that ruck and all that," he explained.

“For us, getting our skill set and doing the simple things really well is something I’m seeing from coming into the squad in the last couple of weeks.”

Kerevi watched on from Europe and Japan as the Wallabies suffered mixed results in the 2024 home Test calendar.

He remains confident they can start producing some wins ahead of next year's British and Irish Lions tour.

"I can't say the results haven't gone our way and being inside the squad or not we want to do well as a Wallaby, it's a privilege to wear the jersey," Kerevi added.

“From playing overseas I know there's not a lot of opportunity to play, so when we're in that opportunity we want to play well

“Internally we know where we're headed and we're building towards our first focus this weekend.

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