It took only five minutes of impact from former Wallaby Samu Kerevi to settle Australia’s cruise past the Republic of Korea at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday night.
The Pool A clash was always tipped to be a runaway but the match had more focus than normal after Australia’s poor 29-19 stumble against Argentina earlier in the day.
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The big 42-5 win over the Koreans all but guaranteed the Aussies will advance to Wednesday’s quarter-finals of the rugby sevens.
Beating New Zealand on Tuesday morning (11.30am AEST) in their final preliminary would secure a better run but even a loss will get the Aussies through as one of the two best-placed third placegetters in pool play.
Coach Tim Walsh made a bold call to include Kerevi in his squad with so little recent sevens background but it has proved a visionary selection.
He scored a runaway try against Argentina and was at it again when he started against the Koreans and played nearly six minutes.
As they did against the Argentinians, the Aussies butchered a kick-off by sending the ball out on the full to open the game.
It put the Koreans on the attack and it took a thumping tackle from the 106kg Kerevi to stall them under his own posts.
In a twinkling, Maurice Longbottom’s twinkle toes were sidestepping by two defenders at the other end of the field for the opening try.
It was the best salve for Longbottom’s kick-off blooper.
Kerevi was at it again soon after when a strong ball-carry bumped off a Korean defender and committed a second tackler. With room elsewhere, pacy Dietrich Roache dashed over for 14-0.
Kerevi’s work was done although Walsh inserted him for the final 80 seconds for another dividend. He drew two defenders again and Dylan Pietsch capitalise with a neat piece of footwork for the sixth and final try.
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The performance against such a lowly-rated opponent meant little and only a huge showing against the Kiwis on Tuesday morning will show the full potential of this squad.
Lachie Miller scored two good tries, including an excellent spin move at speed.
The Kiwis thrashed the Koreans 50-5 and put a burst on late to beat Argentina 35-14.
