FIJI-born enforcer Tevita Kuridrani has fired up the Wallabies and is ready to deliver ahead of Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup decider against world champions All Blacks.
The Wallabies’ top-choice outside centre, who has featured in 23 international Tests, feels defeating Richie McCaw’s All Blacks team last week in a world cup year to claim the SANZAR Rugby Championship has set the stage for him and his Wallabies teammates to do well.
Australian Wallabies have not won at Eden Park for 29-odd years and last won the Bledisloe Cup in 2002 but according to Kuridrani, all that can change on Saturday.
“I think it’s a really strong starting point for us to be able to win against the All Blacks. It gives us confidence.”
Dubbed as the “K-Train”, the 24-year-old from Namatakula Village said, “Even though we played good (last week), we need to step up.
“It’s going to be a tough game. Especially playing at Eden Park, it’s always hard for the All Blacks to lose.
“It’s a motivation for everyone, not winning there for so long but we can break that run.
“Everyone is really pumped-up to bring the cup home,” he said.
Kuridrani is an integral part of the dangerous Wallabies backline. He started all three of Wallabies’ Rugby Championship Tests and scored two tries. He won the man of the match award against the Springboks.
“It’s all due to teamwork. Our coach Chieka wants to use me a lot in multi phases of attack to penetrate the gain-line.
“It’s really a privilege to be part of this team and win the trophy (Rugby Championship).
“I never dreamt about winning it and I’m pretty happy.”
The “K-Train” is excited at the prospect of facing his country of birth, Fiji during in pool play of the Rugby World Cup next month.
“I’m looking forward to the game against Fiji. It will be good to go against them.
“I don’t know which national anthem I will be singing.
“The whole of Fiji will be watching and my family.”
He said those in Fiji aspiring to make it big in rugby, must always dream big.
“Follow your dreams and follow your heart. Everything is possible,” Kuridrani said.
