Jones pulled a major surprise by picking Vunivalu to start on the wing against South Africa in the opening match of the Rugby Championship in early July but it didn\u2019t go to plan, with the former Melbourne Storm winger exposed on several fronts.<\/p>\n
Vunivalu wasn\u2019t picked for Australia\u2019s next three games but was brought in to start on the wing in Paris on Sunday after Jones opted to give Marika Koroibete a rest before the World Cup.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old scored his maiden Test try after beating three defenders \u2013 albeit late in the game when Australia were too far behind to mount a comeback \u2013 in a 41-17 loss at Stade de France.<\/p>\n
On the other wing, Mark Nawaqanitawase continued his rapid rise at Test level with another strong showing. He made more metres (91) than any Wallabies player.<\/p>\n
With Koroibete almost certain to return to the Wallabies starting XV for the match against Georgia on September 9, Jones will have to choose between Vunivalu and Nawaqanitawase for the other spot.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Suliasi Vunivau scores a try against France in Australia\u2019s 41-17 loss in Paris. <\/span>Credit: <\/span>AP<\/cite><\/p>\n Nawaqanitawase has the inside running, given his consistent performances this year, but Vunivalu says he is \u201c100 per cent\u201d pushing to change Jones\u2019 mind.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I put pressure on both of them, it makes them try and perform better,\u201d Vunivalu said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever is good for the team, I\u2019ll back it. I want them to play good and whatever opportunity comes up, I\u2019ll take it.\u201d<\/p>\n Another cross-code star, former Wallabies and Kangaroos representative Mat Rogers, said picking outside backs would be tricky for Jones before the Georgia game.<\/p>\n \u201c[Vunivalu] does give Eddie Jones a headache, doesn\u2019t he?\u201d Rogers, who played under Jones, said on Stan Sport. \u201cHe\u2019s got three world-class wingers now in Mark, Suli and Marika.<\/p>\n \u201cI think [Andrew] Kellaway was great at the back as well. It\u2019s a good problem to have. [Vunivalu] backed himself from the start which was fantastic. He\u2019s a great athlete.\u201d<\/p>\n All year Jones has told Vunivalu to trust his natural ability, and finally the speedster is gaining confidence on the international stage.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I had a good performance out there. I trained well this week,\u201d Vunivalu said.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I just needed that second game in me. I left it all out there and backed myself.<\/p>\n \u201cWalking out at the captain\u2019s run … I couldn\u2019t believe we were playing on this field. I was feeling pumped. I was confident. I knew I\u2019d play well.\u201d<\/p>\n Jones was pleased with what Vunivalu provided across 80 minutes, despite the result.<\/p>\n \u201cAt Super Rugby level, he couldn\u2019t blow a candle out and at Test level he\u2019s scored one good try and could have scored a couple more,\u201d Jones said. \u201cHe looks like he\u2019s ready to play at the highest level.\u201d<\/p>\n The Wallabies will travel to Saint-Etienne on Wednesday \u2013 about three hours south of Paris on a train \u2013 where they will base themselves for a week before heading back to the nation\u2019s capital to prepare for the Georgia fixture.<\/p>\n Of the nine World Cups Australia have taken part in, the men in gold have never entered the tournament coming off five consecutive losses.<\/p>\n The worst pre-World Cup record of the last 20 years came when Jones was in charge in 2003. Australia lost four of their five Tests in the lead-up \u2013 to England, South Africa and New Zealand (twice) \u2013 before rebounding to make the World Cup final against England in Sydney.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s definitely going to be nerves [in the Georgia game] because there\u2019s pressure on it,\u201d Vunivalu said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just need to go back and review this [France] game. We have a good connection with this group. The World Cup is anyone\u2019s game.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got it in us. We get ourselves in good positions but we just never execute. We either knock on or give the ball back. If we can go up there and get points out of it, we\u2019ll be good.<\/p>\n \u201cThe boys are tight and we want to win. We\u2019re doing our best.\u201d<\/p>\n Watch all the action from <\/b>Rugby World Cup 2023<\/b> on the Home of Rugby, <\/b>Stan Sport<\/b>. Every match ad-free, live and on demand in 4K UHD from September 9.<\/b><\/p>\n Sports news, results and expert commentary. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nMost Viewed in Sport<\/h2>\n
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