Wallabies lose Samu Kerevi and Sean McMahon
The Wallabies will be without the services of Samu Kerevi and Sean McMahon – and possibly Quade Cooper – for their end-of-year tour of the northern hemisphere, while head coach Dave Rennie has sounded out Kurtley Beale about a possible return.
Japan-based centre Kerevi and back-row McMahon were both selected for Tests against Scotland, England and Wales next month after the loosening of Rugby Australia’s eligibility rules allowed them to return for the Rugby Championship.
Staying in Japan
But Rennie confirmed on Tuesday that the duo would instead honour Suntory Sungoliath’s wishes and remain at their club ahead of the start of the Top League campaign in January.
Cooper is also remaining in Japan for now with Rennie set to hold talks with his club, Kintetsu Liners, on Wednesday about releasing the veteran fly-half for the Wallaby tour.
Although Australia’s three Tests fall within an international window, Rennie is wary of overstepping as neither Kerevi or McMahon were eligible to play at Test level when they joined Suntory.
“The whole time the boys had said that they wanted the support of the club, to say they were happy for them to go,” Rennie told AAP when asked if the decision had caught him by surprise.
“They did mention (during the Rugby Championship) they were nervous how their clubs would respond to them touring.
“They’ve loved their time but they’ve made a decision based on what their club needs.
“It’s disappointing… we were keen to get a bit more out of them late in the year, but they’ve made their call based on the desire of the clubs and we’ve just got to get on with things.”
Meanwhile, with Reece Hodge ruled out with a shoulder injury sustained in Saturday’s win over Japan in Oita and fellow full-back Tom Banks also on the long-term injury list, the Wallabies backline stocks are thin.
Rennie revealed that he has spoken with experienced Racing 92 utility back Beale, who last played for the Wallabies in 2019, on Monday about joining the squad alongside several other potential overseas-based reinforcements.
Fellow Top 14 players Tolu Latu, Rory Arnold and Will Skelton have already been recalled to the Wallabies squad in further exemptions to the Giteau Law that were given the green light by the Rugby Australia (RA) board.
“We’ve made contact with Kurtley and we’ve had conversations with Kurtley over a period of time, he’s made it really clear his desire to be a Wallaby again,” said Rennie.
“And with the introduction of some of the guys he played with previously he was pretty excited by that.”
Rennie revealed that Covid-19 had allowed RA to “test the waters” with their selection of overseas-based players and, while this incident had created problems, it may not be a long-term issue.
“It’s in its infancy from a Wallaby perspective,” Rennie added.
“The Argentinians and South Africans pick most of their squad out of Europe and clubs sign those players knowing they’re going to lose them at various times.
“It’s potentially a complication at the moment that could remedy itself over time.”
