FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2023 - Pool C - Australia v Fiji - Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, France - September 17, 2023 Australia's Samu Kerevi in action REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo
(Reuters) - Australia centre Samu Kerevi is relishing a potential return to test rugby against England at the weekend and said he would be ready even if he has had little game time over the last six months.
Kerevi last played for Australia at the World Cup in France more than a year ago and has played no competitive rugby since May when his season with Japanese club Urayasu D-Rocks ended.
But he was confident he would be up to the task if picked by coach Joe Schmidt for Saturday’s international at Twickenham.
"I've played over 40 caps now at a test level. I know what it feels like to be in that arena and what your body needs to give in terms of that, but more so the mindset that you need," he told a press conference on Monday.
"I know what it takes to be at a test level. Sure, I haven't got a lot of game time since we finished in May this year, but 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," added Kerevi, who turned 31 last week.
Kerevi is one of two overseas-based players picked for Australia’s four-test tour of Europe this month where they take on England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland over four consecutive weekends.
It is the first time Kerevi has worked with new Wallabies coach Schmidt, who has obviously impressed him.
"I think Joe's brought a different aspect to the way we want to play the game. Just being in (the squad) the last couple of weeks, I've seen the skill set of the boys go to another level, which they're already had, but just the way they play and the tempo," he said.
"We've had three coaches in the last three years and 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 over the last couple of weeks.
"For myself, just seeing the way Joe wants to play ... everything's attacking ... the kicking game, the way we want to move the ball, but also in and around the ruck and all that."
Australia go into Saturday’s test after a disappointing Rugby Championship where they lost five of six matches and finished bottom of the standings.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
