A dollar for Israel Folau's thoughts as Australia prepare to play their first Test since his sacking
A dollar for Israel Folau’s thoughts in the early hours an Australian Sunday morning this weekend.
The Wallabies go into Rugby Championship action 11,000 kilometres away in South Africa and the 30-year-old will be absent having being a near ever-present the past six seasons, starting in 31 of his country’s 33 matches in the tournament.
It has been a cataclysmic, life-changing few months for the fallen Australian star. He had thought he was quids in at the beginning of the year, Rugby Australia convincing him his future was best served by signing a fresh four-year deal reportedly worth $4million.
However, that scenario was quashed all because of an April 10 social media message that claimed homosexuals were destined for hell unless they repented their sins.
The post was liked on Instagram 73,798 times but his employers took a dim view, tearing up his contract 37 days later on May 17 and creating a headache for Michael Cheika that will potentially run all the way to the World Cup finals in Japan.
Let’s momentarily ignore Folau’s divisive religious narrative. The bottom line is he was a mightily fine rugby player on his day, one the Wallabies had become massively dependent on in their back field.
Test rugby nations are supposed to be sure of themselves coming towards the end of a four-year World Cup cycle, not taking chances that it will turn out alright on the night.
That is the territory that Cheika finds himself occupying in fielding inexperienced Tom Banks (three caps) at Ellis Park, the intimidating spiritual venue where the Springboks clinched the 1995 World Cup and where the Wallabies have been bereft of a victory since 1963.
BREAKING l Your #Wallabies team to face the Springboks in the opening game of the #RugbyChampionship.
Watch live on @FOXSportsAUS, @kayosports and free to air on @Channel10AU on Sunday morning at 1.05am AEST.
MEDIA: https://t.co/wpbHI2rmTj#GoldBlooded pic.twitter.com/3iBgpFWfaO
— Qantas Wallabies (@qantaswallabies) July 18, 2019
You can crib that Folau wasn’t particularly devastating in his 10 Rugby Championship encounters versus the Springboks as he only ever scored two tries.
Truth be told, though, he had become a player whose strike rate had jumped through the hoops in recent times. Of his 14 career Rugby Championship tries in 31 appearances, seven had come in his last 10 outings, the sort of potency that won’t be easily replaced by Banks and co.
Johannesburg would have been a new port of call for Folau. His 31 matches had taken place in 16 different cities, but he had yet to run out at Ellis Park and his absence for Australia’s first Test match since his very public sacking helped put a spring in Rassie Erasmus’ step this week.
Rugby Australia and Israel Folau headed for court after
mediation fails to resolve unfair dismissal claim.READ: https://t.co/MXKWR1RRF8 pic.twitter.com/0Q8lXve0MF
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) June 28, 2019
“They will be less of a threat aerially without him… that is one thing you worry about,” claimed the Boks boss on Wednesday when he revealed South Africa’s hand for the championship opener against a Wallabies team that has lost 11 of its last 15 matches under Cheika.
“I don’t know how influential he was as a leader but certainly I think we have a better chance in the aerial department. He is a great striker and finishes tries. He was the top-try scorer (in Super Rugby). He is an influential player.
“There is no doubt they will miss Folau because he is a world-class player but they interchange positions no matter the number on their back.”
YOU are in a fight that YOU chose to be in after YOU broke the terms of YOUR contract, the kids below are in a fight they NEVER wanted to be in & yet YOU think YOU deserve donations more than they do??!!
It’s no longer about religion, it’s about YOU and YOUR greed.@IzzyFolau ????? pic.twitter.com/mdywzaw1ha
— Drew Mitchell (@drew_mitchell) June 21, 2019
They do, of course, interchange frequently. Folau, the regular full-back, had run on the wing in a number of last season’s tournament games, but the Wallabies must now prove there is prosperous life after their controversial star’s exclusion.
A dollar for his thoughts as they set about that onerous task.
ANATOMY OF FOLAU’S 31 RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES
He played in 16 different cities: 6 – Sydney; 4 – Perth, 3 – Brisbane, Mendoza, 2 – Wellington, Cape Town, Gold Coast; 1 – Rosario, Auckland, Pretoria, London, Dunedin, Canberra, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, Salta.
He faced Argentina the most: Argentina P11 W9 L2; New Zealand P10 W1 D1 L8, South Africa P10 W3 D2 L5. His overall success rate was 46.7 per cent – W13 D3 L15.
He completed five full championships in six seasons: Played all games in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017. He missed the matches away to New Zealand and home to South Africa in 2018. All bar five of his appearances came at full-back.
He scored 14 tries: Four came against Argentina in the two 2013 fixtures, including a hat-trick at Rosario. There were further tries against South Africa and New Zealand in 2014, but he then went 16 matches without another score until August 2017 against New Zealand. That score in Sydney ignited a run that saw him score seven tries in his last 10 Rugby Championship matches.
WATCH: The RugbyPass trailer for the Ben Foden MLR documentary that will be released this weekend
Comments on RugbyPass
Yet, according to Jake White and other twonks who think better, Jenkins shouldn’t be picked by the boks. Daft.
3 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
5 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments