Super Rugby: Tevita Kuridrani gives Australian rugby boost by staying but faces big assignment against Israel Folau on Sunday

TEVITA Kuridrani was described as arguably the best centre in the world yesterday and the young Brumby will have a suitable assignment to try and prove it on Sunday: shutting down Israel Folau.

Top centre Kuridrani has work cut out

TEVITA Kuridrani was described as arguably the best centre in the world yesterday and the young Brumby will have a suitable assignment to try and prove it on Sunday: shutting down Israel Folau.

After a spate of offshore signings, Kuridrani delivered Australian rugby a overdue dose of good news on Tuesday by announcing he was recommitting to the Brumbies and ARU for at least another two seasons, confirming NewsCorp’s reports of last month.

Kuridrani, 23, said he’d turned down big overseas offers to try to lock down his Wallabies No. 13 jumper and, importantly, continue working with Stephen Larkham at state and Test level.

The Brumbies coach repaid the compliment by lavishing high praise on Kuridrani as a world XV player, which was notable in itself given Larkham is usually not even prone to talking, let alone talking someone up.

“He is certainly the best centre in Australia, if not the world, at the moment,” Larkham said.

“He’s big, he’s fast, he’s physical, he has a good combination with the players around him and he is only 23. He has a big future ahead of him. We are ecstatic that we have signed him up. It is good for Australian rugby. ”

Kuridrani emerged as one of the Wallabies’ best players last year when among a small group to stand up in a low Tri-Nations campaign.

The 108kg powerhouse used his hard running game, both in gaps and into contact, to dent defences and get the Wallabies rolling.

Tevita Kuridrani in full flight for the Brumbies.

But the Fijian-born centre — who is related to Lote Tuqiri and Noa Nadruku — is just as strong in defence as attack, and Kuridrani’s pressure in this area will be crucial for the Brumbies against the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium.

With Adam Ashley-Cooper injured, NSW have deployed Israel Folau at outside centre in attack for the last two games and he’ll be up against Kuridrani in a fascinating duel in the same channel on Sunday.

The world’s best centre claim should be easy enough to quickly measure. Folau was outplayed by All Black centre Malakai Fekitoa in NSW’s loss to the Highlanders last weekend, and Kuridrani is excited by the same challenge.

Adding extra intrigue, he and Folau have become strong friends at Wallabies level.

“Izzy is a very talented guy, no matter where on the field you put him, he will perform in that position,” Kuridrani said.

“It will be good if he gets the chance to play outside centre, and it will be a chance to test myself. I am looking forward to coming up against him.”

Criticism from David Campese last week about Kurdrani’s skills have lingered in Canberra well beyond their standard use-by date, and Larkham yesterday dismissed the opinion of the ex-Wallaby, saying Kuridrani was a similar player to Stirling Mortlock.

“Tevita is big and physical and certainly defends very well. In attack we use him as a ball carrier but he also has a very good short passing game that you see him use from time to time.”

Though no doubt fist-pumping from a Wallabies perspective, Michael Cheika was wearing only his NSW hat yesterday and declined to comment on Kuridrani’s re-signing.

Cheika further dismissed any Wallabies motivation in one-on-one rivalries — “I don’t think that is really relevant … once you are on the field no-one is thinking about that” — and wasn’t even remotely in the mood to ponder the bizarre news that Australia had dropped to their lowest ever world ranking of sixth, following Wales’ win over Ireland in the Six Nations.

“Did the Wallabies play?,” Cheika said.

Originally published as Super Rugby: Tevita Kuridrani gives Australian rugby boost by staying but faces big assignment against Israel Folau on Sunday