Strong running Wallabies second-five eighth Samu Kerevi was rested at halftime in their 35-15 win over Georgia for a reason.

Kerevi, who featured for the first time since last month’s loss at New Zealand, left the field at the interval with Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones’ mind turning to Sunday’s (Fiji time) crucial Rugby World Cup Pool C clash against the Flying Fijians.

“Samu, we always planned he would play the 40. He hadn’t played since Dunedin, we had to give him time,” explained Jones.

“The plan was to get him ready for Fiji. For him and for us it’s an important game. For him to play against his mother country is pretty special,” Jones added.

He (Kerevi) is among the seven players of Fijian descent in the Wallabies squad. They are Marika Koroibete, Suliasi Vunivalu, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Issak FinesLeleiwasa, Rob Valetini and Langi Gleeson.

Kerevi, Koroibete, Nawaqanitase and Rob Valetini started against Georgia with Gleeson and Vunivalu coming off the bench. Nawaqanitawase scored one of the four tries.

Jones said they had a good start with five points and would travel to Bordeaux to recover.

Samu Kerevi (R) offloads against Georgia during their Rugby World Cup opener at the Stade de France in Paris on September 9, 2023. Photo: rugby.com.au

“We’ll start our preparations against Fiji on Tuesday,” he said.

The only setback to the Australians, is the injuries to halfbacks Tate McDermott and veteran Nie White.

“I cannot confirm anything on Tate. I’m not a doctor,” Jones told the media after it was confirmed that his first-choice No.9 failed the Head Injury Assessment (H.I.A) test.

It was rated a grade one concussion, under protocols McDermott will have to stand down for 12 days ruling him out of the Fiji game.

The vice-captain could return to face Wales in Lyon, which is in 15 days time.

That could see Fines- Leleiwasa getting a run at halfback.

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj