Tevita Kuridrani and Israel Folau rivals for Wallabies spot

Tevita Kuridrani and Israel Folau are developing a healthy rivalry for the Wallabies No 13 jersey.

Brumbies centre Tevita Kuridrani is coming under pressure from Israel Folau for the Wallabies No 13 jersey.

Israel Folau is giving Brumbies outside centre Tevita Kuridrani the kind of competition for the Wallabies No 13 jersey that he used to get from Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Kuridrani has been the Wallabies’ first-choice outside centre since forcing Ashley-Cooper out to the wing in 2013. But Folau’s move from fullback to outside centre with the NSW Waratahs is threatening to develop into a similar rivalry.

“Cheik (Wallabies coach Michael Cheika) will choose who he wants at the end of the day,” Brumbies loosehead prop Scott Sio said.

“Having talked to Israel, he is relishing being around the ball a bit more. Tevita, it’s another challenge for him.

“Izzy has refreshed that rivalry. It’s great for Australian rugby. We want our best players testing each other.”

Kuridrani is enjoying a solid season for the Brumbies, carrying the ball 101 times for an average of 3.86m gained in 11 games.

Although he has beaten 16 defenders, Kuridrani has scored only one try and assisted one.

But the powerful Fijian should get an opportunity to unleash when the Brumbies play the second-last- placed Sunwolves in Canberra on Saturday night, although Sio was adamant they were not taking the expansion team lightly.

“Getting those two wins (against the Bulls and Rebels) before the bye was good for us,” Sio said. “We got a lot of momentum.

“As you’ve seen in the last few weeks, the Sunwolves aren’t easybeats. They suffered that big loss against the Cheetahs but they bounced back really well and have played some enterprising rugby.

“We know it will take nothing less than an 80-minute effort. They are a traditional Japanese side. They’re very fit. They are very hard on the ball and technically sound at the set piece.

“We know if we fall down in any part of our game, it’s going to really hurt us.”

The Brumbies are in second place in the Australian conference, one point behind the Waratahs, but they have a more favourable run home.

“History shows in sport that favourites don’t always win,” Sio said. “Super Rugby has got to the stage where every game is a tough game. The scoreboard doesn’t always reflect how tough a lot of these games are.

“You can never rest easy. Gone are the days where teams get flogged week in and week out. That’s where our competition is heading and it’s exciting.”

Three of the Brumbies’ last four games are in Canberra, which is a big advantage in their bid for the Australian conference title and automatic qualification for the playoffs.

“I love playing at home,” Sio said. “Such a great atmosphere. The Canberra crowd is so loud we even struggle to hear our own line­out calls.”

The Sunwolves game is the Brumbies’ last before the season is interrupted by the June break for the Wallabies’ three-Test series against England.

“It’s the norm now,” Sio said. “We’ve been doing it for a couple of years. Players just have to embrace it. It’s going to be there for a while, so you’ve just got to take it as it is.”