Super Rugby 2015: Wallabies World Cup contenders emerge after strong club seasons

MEET the five under the radar Super Rugby players who could bolt into Australia’s 2015 World Cup squad.

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WALLABIES coach Michael Cheika has until August 31 to submit his 31-man squad for the September 18-October 31 World Cup in England.

The global showpiece is no place for experimentation but a combination of form and injury could conspire to produce at least one or two old fashioned bolters.

Here are our ‘soon to be famous five’ Super Rugby players putting their hands up for Cheika’s consideration.

If they’re not international stars this year, we think they will be in the not too distant future.

Rory Arnold of the Brumbies is tackled during against the Lions.

RORY ARNOLD

Team: Brumbies

Born: July 1, 1990 in Wagga Wagga

Physical: 2.08m, 120kg

Position: Lock

The term giant can be bandied about a bit too often in sport but in Arnold’s case there is no hyperbole.

At 2.08m, the Wagga Wagga-born lock became the joint-tallest player (along with Andries Bekker) in the history of Super Rugby when he made his debut this year against the Reds.

A man that big isn’t easy to lift in the lineout (think Will Skelton) but Arnold has made the third most lineout wins (23) for the Brumbies this season.

Often young players go through form peaks and troughs as they step up to the professional level but Arnold has been in consistently good form in his debut season, starting in nine of his 10 games so far.

“Everything has been new but the speed of Super Rugby and the structure, with the roles everyone plays, are the big differences,” Arnold told The Courier-Mail earlier this year.

“Being a bit more physical, hitting rucks, aggressive carries, getting my set-piece stuff spot on, a presence round the field ... there’s a lot to keep working on.”

Adam Coleman of the Force takes a high ball against the Highlanders.

ADAM COLEMAN

Team: Force

Born: October 7, 1991 in Hobart

Physical: 2.04m, 122kg

Position: Lock

Let’s stick with the big rigs.

Coleman — the Tasmanian-born son of former Tonga captain Pau’u Afeaki — is only slightly less imposing than Arnold and he’s also posting impressive numbers on the field.

Coleman is averaging more than double the run metres he recorded last season and has also made the most lineout wins (34) by a Force player this season.

Lock is not a position of great depth in Australian rugby, with Rob Simmons, Sam Carter, and Skelton the incumbents, and Coleman and Arnold are on Cheika’s radar.

“I’m definitely watching closely,” Cheika told The Australian in March.

“It’s a massive assistance if you’re a big lad.

“Also good for scrums and the power game and driving mauls, if they know how to put their bodies about. So it’s very handy.”

Reds centre Samu Kerevi on the charge against the Hurricanes.

SAMU KEREVI

Team: Reds

Born: September 27, 1993 in Fiji

Physical: 1.86m, 108kg

Position: Centre

The Fijian-born excitement machine leads the Reds in run metres (110), tackle busts (42), linebreaks (13) and tries (six) this season.

While he remains somewhat of a rough diamond, the potential is obvious and immense.

The 21-year-old this week pledged his future to Australian rugby — a tough decision given he would walk into Fiji’s World Cup squad, of which brother Josua is likely to be a member.

“It’s mainly my father (Nimi) and family asking if I still have the passion to play for Fiji because I did with my brother in the under-20s,” Kerevi told The Courier-Mail.

“I’d love to play for the Wallabies and Fiji but higher honours are just background noise for me right now.

“It’s my first full season of Super Rugby so there is still plenty I’m learning and my No.1 commitment is the Reds and doing what I can for us to finish the season strongly.

“For all Fijians playing for the Wallabies is a great honour that brings pride to the Fijian community as Tevita Kuridrani and Henry Speight have done.”

Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu scores a try against the Brumbies.

TOLU LATU

Team: Waratahs

Born: February 23, 1993 in Tonga

Physical: 1.78m, 110kg

Position: Hooker

The yellow card for a lifting tackle on the Crusaders’ Sam Whitelock on Saturday night was an obvious blemish.

But other than that, Latu has made the most of Waratahs rake Tatafu Polota-Nau’s unfortunate battles with concussion.

Last season Latu earned all 14 caps off the bench, this year he has started in seven of his 13 games for the Super Rugby champions.

The Tongan-born Latu has a marginally better win percentage on his lineout throws than Polota-Nau and, a robust ballrunner, he has also upped his workload in making an average of 3.9 runs for 21 metres per game.

The former Australian age-group international told The Daily Telegraph last month that an improved diet — including eating more vegetables — was a reason for his strong form.

“It has made a big difference,” Latu said.

“I’m not really waking up and feeling sluggish or going into games sluggish because you’ve had too much carbs ...

“I find it a lot easier running around a bit lighter, makes it easier to get around the park.”

Rebels lock Lopeti Timani is hard to tackle for Chiefs prop Ben Tameifuna.

LOPETI TIMANI

Team: Rebels

Born: September 28, 1990 in Tonga

Physical: 1.93m, 123kg

Position: Lock/backrower

The 24-year-old former Bulldogs league player continues to make an impression on Super Rugby as a versatile lock/backrower.

A strong ball-carrier (perhaps a product of his league days), Timani has made the third most runs (99) by a Rebels player this season and is averaging 8.3 runs and 31 metres this season, the most of his career.

The younger brother of former Wallabies second-rower Sitaleki, Timani earned high praise from Cheika following a man of the match performance in the Rebels’ upset win over the Crusaders in February.

“If he can deliver that type of performance every week, then he is going to be a force to be reckoned with,” Cheika said.

Originally published as Super Rugby 2015: Wallabies World Cup contenders emerge after strong club seasons