Kerevi dropped as Jones goes with Waratahs centres Peresi and Foketi
Nic White also dropped as Fines-Leleiwasa takes his place on the bench

Kerevi dropped as Jones goes with Waratahs centres Peresi and Foketi

Nic White also dropped as Fines-Leleiwasa takes his place on the bench

By Alipate Narawa
Saturday 30/09/2023
Izaia Perese (L) and Lalakai Foketi (R)

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has dropped Samu Kerevi for their last Rugby World Cup pool match against Portugal in the latest of his odd line-up selections.

Jones has named a new centre combination, with Izaia Perese joining NSW teammate Lalakai Foketi as the Australians attempt to finish a disastrous campaign on a positive note.

They will know before they enter the Saint-Etienne match on Monday morning whether their slim quarter-final hopes have been dashed, dependent on the outcome of the Fiji-Georgia game 24 hours earlier.

If Fiji wins with a bonus point the Australians can start packing their bags.

A lack of experience in the Wallabies side was exposed in their record losses to Wales and Fiji, but Jones has opted to axe Kerevi and Jordan Petaia and bring in Foketi and five-Test Perese for his first World Cup match.

While he’s a specialist outside centre, Perese has never started a Test at 13.

Jones told reporters that Foketi has trained well the whole tournament and Kerevi has probably just been a little off.

In an unchanged front row, centurion James Slipper will break George Gregan’s record for the most World Cup matches by an Australian, making his 21st appearance.

Fraser McReight has returned to the No.7 jersey with Tom Hooper switching to blindside flanker with Rob Leota relegated to the bench.

With one Test under his belt, Josh Kemeny has been selected for his first World Cup appearance as the remaining forward cover.

Issak Fines-Leleiwasa has been named on the bench ahead of veteran halfback Nic White, with Tate McDermott partnering Ben Donaldson in the halves.

Jones says there would be an emphasis on attack from the first minute to the 80th, and they need to empty the tank.

Wallabies team to face Portugal:

Andrew Kellaway, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Izaia Perese, Lalakai Foketi, Marika Koroibete, Ben Donaldson, Tate McDermott, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Richie Arnold, Nick Frost, James Slipper, David Porecki (capt), Angus Bell.

Reserves: Matt Faessler, Blake Schoupp, Pone Fa’amausili, Rob Leota, Josh Kemeny, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Carter Gordon, Suliasi Vunivalu.

Source: Rugbypass


DateTimeTeamTeam

FNRL
FEATURE NEWS
Fiji exports to the US like Fiji Water, kava, dalo and turmeric to be hit hard with increase in the 32% tariffs
Fiji exports to the United States of America like Fiji Water, kava, dalo and turmeric will be hit hard with the increase in the 32 percent tariffs by ...
2 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Kamikamica to push for reduction of US tariff on Fijian exports
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Manoa Kamikamica says the 32 percent tariff imposed on Fijian exports to the United States is too high ...
15 minutes ago

Fijian music legends pay tribute to iconic VITIFM personality Maikeli Radua
A group of Fiji’s renowned local artists led by Vude King and Queen, Seru Serevi and Laisa Vulakoro, presented their i-reguregu to the family ...
20 minutes ago

Bus accident in Colo-i-Suva
A bus went off Princes Road in Colo-i-Suva this afternoon. fijivillage News has received information that the bus overturned and is lying on one ...
32 minutes ago

Waibasaga Villagers take action to build lifesaving bridge
The people of Waibasaga Village in Naitasiri will no longer wait for government’s assistance to build a new bridge after enduring the terrifying ...
54 minutes ago

US tariff on Fijian exports unfair and disproportionate – Prof. Prasad
The imposition of a 32 percent across the board tariff on Fijian exports into the US is quite disproportionate and unfair, and 96 percent of what ...
58 minutes ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Swire Shipping Fijian Drua Coach, Glen Jackson appear on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Swire Shipping Fijian Drua Coach, Glen Jackson appeared on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan from the Drua base in Nadi. Coming off ...
7 hours ago

Reverend Tugi on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Watch the General Secretary of Fiji Evangelical Fellowship, Reverend Simione Tugi on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay ...
35 days ago

fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan and William Parkinson
Chairman of Communications Fiji Limited, parent company of FM96, LegendFM, VitiFM, Navtarang, Radio Sargam, fijivillage and PNGFM, William Parkinson ...
36 days ago

TOP