Suliasi Vunivalu v the Brumbies’ little big men is the clash of the weekend

You would hope the names Andy Muirhead and Corey Toole were those obscured by Eddie Jones’ hand as he drafted or scribbled his first Wallabies squad in the AAMI Park stands last weekend.

The Wallabies coach was right to quickly dismiss the significance of his notes - it is only round 2 after all - but if the Brumbies’ wingers aren’t rated as good enough to even make a speculative list then it’s hard to see what else they must do.

Yes, the arguments against them are obvious: too small and likely to be exposed by Test rugby’s brutal conflict. But this column has pumped up Muirhead’s tyres before and since then, the trends in the game - a shift towards smaller back three players among the best Test sides in the world - has only gathered pace. And have the Wallabies forgotten Ange Capuozzo - all 177cm and 82kg of him - after the Italian fullback cut them to shreds in Florence last year?

As a result, there should be extra weighting attached to the mouthwatering clash between Reds winger Suliasi Vunivalu and the Brumbies’ little big men on the edges of the Brumbies v Reds game in Canberra on Saturday.
Vunivalu, who did feature on Jones’ list - appears to have the inside running as far the Wallabies are concerned. This is a big opportunity for Toole and Muirhead.

For mine, Toole and Muirhead won the little moments that won the game against the Blues’ powerful All Blacks back three last week.

It won’t make the highlights reel, but Toole’s kick chase in the first half when he challenged Blues fullback Stephen Perofeta in the air was a microcosm of the game. Perofeta did exceptionally well to take the catch, but Toole’s challenge was so effective it spoiled any chance of the Blues launching a counterattack, where they are so lethal.

It wasn’t a coincidence. Fast-forward to the 59th minute, with the Brumbies well inside their own territory and the contest on a knife edge at 25-20. Noah Lolesio puts up a bomb, and who is that with the great chase and aerial contest to force an error out of All Black Caleb Clarke: it’s Muirhead.

And, from the subsequent phase, the Brumbies win a relieving offside penalty because the Blues don’t work hard enough to get back.

We’ll say it until we’re blue in the face: this is what actually wins big games. It’s the equivalent to the ubiquitous ‘high pressing’ tactics in modern football - it doesn’t matter how talented you are - you could be Liverpool forward Mo Salah for example - you have to work hard without the ball to pressure the opposition.

Toole’s extreme pace also has another benefit. When the Brumbies exit from their left-hand side, Toole is so quick that he invariably cuts off the quick throw-in: yet another of the Brumbies winning the mini battles within the game that are so decisive in the outcome.

The Brumbies’ wingers aren’t outliers in the modern game. After Springbok Cheslin Kolbe made such an impact at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, we have seen a number of small or smallish players make their mark out wide: Gabin Villiere of France (sadly injured at present), Mack Hansen of Ireland, Darcy Graham of Scotland, Kurt-Lee Arendse of South Africa, and Capuozzo of Italy. Even Ireland’s Hugo Keenan - the world’s best fullback - is not a big man, and like Toole came through the Sevens circuit.

Australia and New Zealand, meanwhile, have largely remained wedded to the idea that you need at least one physically dominant presence out wide.

Vunivalu is a player in this mould - and clearly right up Jones’ street. And no one can dispute that there is an intoxicating appeal to the power winger: the bloke who can make something out of nothing against well-organised defences.

Vunivalu has given glimpses of this during Super Rugby, particularly when he is given space or a one-on-one situation.

But Mark Nawaqanitawase’s rise gives the Wallabies enough size on one flank and Marika Koroibete is available via a Giteau Law selection.

So, is there room for a little big man in Jones’ Wallabies? Saturday evening will provide part of the answer.

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