Danny Cipriani’s advice helps Cooper Vuna get up to speed 

Worcester wing sensation Cooper Vuna says advice from former Melbourne Rebels teammate Danny Cipriani has helped him settle into English rugby in double-quick time.
Vuna arrived from Japanese outfit Toshiba Brave Lupus only last month but the former Aussie Test star has become an instant hit at Sixways, his first two matches coinciding with a 56-15 drubbing of London Scottish and the British & Irish Cup final victory over Doncaster.
“I was pretty stoked about winning last week,” Vuna, 27, told The Rugby Paper. “I’d never won any silverware in my senior club career before, so it was a great way to begin.
“I didn’t get much game time in Japan so I needed a fresh start and I’m at the stage of my career now where I want to enjoy my rugby and experience something different.
“English rugby is different, more of a forwards game, and I’m still trying to adapt. But Danny has been really positive and has been telling me about the game here.
“It’s not like Super Rugby at all and I understand that, but it’s something I wanted to challenge myself to do, to get me out of my comfort zone and help build something.
“Danny’s told me the backs aren’t going to get much ball, that there’s a lot of kicking and has warned me to keep my legs fresh because he knows I like chasing kicks!
“It’s been good so far, though, and the last couple of games I’ve played have been awesome. I can’t really express how much I’m enjoying myself at Worcester so far.”
Vuna is experienced in both rugby codes, having spent the early years of his professional career in NRL with the Newcastle Knights before trying his hand in Super Rugby.
It was with the Rebels that he won his two Australia caps, both against Wales in 2012, before a damaged shoulder and six-month lay-off put paid to his latent Test career.
“I was really unfortunate not to play against the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship due to that injury and playing Test rugby is still in the back of my mind,” Vuna says.
“I’d like to go back and try again one day, but you have to build towards that somewhere first and Worcester have given me the opportunity I need to do that.
“Every time I pull on a jersey I try to prove what I’ve got. I don’t want to leave anything in the changing room or be half-hearted, I put a lot of pride into my rugby.”
Vuna’s hard-running style has already endeared him to the Sixways faithful – no surprise given the names of the All Blacks legends who influenced him as a child.
Standing 5ft 11ins (1.80m) and weighing 16st 5lbs (104kgs), Vuna is a powerful unit himself. He added: “Being a young kid in Auckland, Jonah Lomu was the man. My father was rugby crazy and whenever the Blues or All Blacks were on, I’d watch him do his stuff.
“Funnily enough, I also liked the style of No.8s like Ron Cribb and Zinzan Brooke – two physical players and big human beings who liked to bust the line.
“There’s a bit of all those guys in me and if I’m on a run and can hear the fans roaring, the more I want to give for them. I love involving the fans in what I do.”
NEALE HARVEY