Kerevi’s promise ahead of Wallabies return

Samu Kerevi has declared he’s ready “to be the best in the world” again, with the veteran Wallaby in line to play his 50th Test for his country against England this weekend.

The 31-year-old hasn’t represented Australia for more than a year but has the backing of his teammates, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto adamant that Kerevi can return to his best on the spring tour.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt recalled Kerevi for the tour, with the veteran inside centre ready to prove his doubters wrong after a less than ideal build-up with his Japanese club.

“There are always highs and lows of rugby, and everyone’s got an opinion, and in 2021 everyone thought I was best in the world,” Kerevi said.

“But for me, it won’t affect me the way that people think about me. I know what I think about myself. I know the work I’ve put in, not just these last couple of years, but 11 years now.

“If I’m selected this week, I’ll be ready to go. If it’s next week or the week after, I’m keen to get on the field and just play some footy.

“Every time I prepare, I prepare to be the best in the world.

“If you didn’t have that mindset, then you wouldn’t be at this level. And as well as it’s nice to hear (compliments) from other people, I’ve got my own self-drive – that’s all I need.”

Kerevi has been starved of game time over the past five months but has shown in the past that he has the all-round game to dominate for the Wallabies.

“I’ve played over 40 caps now at Test level, I know what it feels like to be in that arena and what your body needs to give but more so the mindset that you need,” he said.

“Since being in Japan, there have been a lot of conversations like that, it’s always been the same (with people saying) ‘The Japan league is this, the Japan league is that’, but internally, I know what it takes to be here at Test level.

“Yes, I haven’t got a lot of game time since last year’s games, and we finished in May this year. I’ve got a trial match under my belt, but I’m just feeling my way back for this week.

“It’s awesome to be back in the squad. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be back. It’s pretty exciting times for the Wallabies.”

The match against England will be a stern test for a Wallabies side that struggled again in the Rugby Championship with just one win from their five matches.

Schmidt is looking to set new standards across the squad, and it appears his players are buying what he’s selling as he looks to make the Wallabies an international force once more.

“It’s going to take time, we understand that, but the more we can grow and the more wins we can get on and off the field along the way is going to help us build quite nicely,” Salakaia-Loto said.

“We’re not building to rebuild, we’re building to get better. I think we’ve done that.

“While the results haven’t necessarily fallen on our side recently, we still believe in everything we’re putting into place. The buy in from the players and coaches has been genuine, and only we know that internally.

“It might look different externally, but internally we know where we’re at and where we’re going.”