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Fourth choice prop and one Test hooker on the brink of Rugby World Cup selection
Pone Fa’amausili and Matt Faessler stand on the brink of shock selections for Australia’s Rugby World Cup squad after being thrust into the Bledisloe Cup cauldron.
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Prop Fa’amausili made a first run-on start in Saturday’s 23-20 loss in Dunedin, riding out a pair of huge hits as the Wallabies took control early.
Hooker Faessler – who had never worn the gold jersey before – was ordered to put down his bacon at breakfast on match day when Jordan Uelese’s knee didn’t come up.
He was then thrust into battle in the 14th minute when Dave Porecki left with a shoulder complaint.
“It all happened so quickly I haven’t had time to process what’s occurred,” Faessler said after full-time, proudly wearing his Wallabies cap for media duties.
It wasn’t long ago the pair were bashing about in suburban parks playing club rugby: for Melbourne-raised Rebels forward Fa’amausili it was just last month.
Overlooked for Wallabies duty, Fa’amausili went back to the Moorabbin Rams, ditching his place in the front row for a number eight shirt.
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“Obviously I got dropped, I didn’t make the squad to go to South Africa but found a bit of love through playing with some good mates,” he said.
Faessler didn’t have a professional contract until last year, when he was plucked from club rugby to fill-in for the undermanned Queenslands Reds in a trial match.
At the time, the hooker called playing in that match being “thrown into the deep end”.
Showing his progression, the 24-year-old didn’t look out of place against the mighty All Blacks.
“I didn’t actually have time to sit and process what was occurring, what things could happen badly or go well, etc,” Faessler said.
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“I was actually pretty clear-minded going in and then I definitely wasn’t expecting to get on that early or play those sorts of minutes. Just grateful for that opportunity.”
What the Queenslander and Melburnian have in common is coach Eddie Jones, who backed them to come good in a gold shirt they both have coveted.
Faessler said Jones’ exacting standards had lifted the entire group.
“He’s huge on accountability,” Faessler said.
“There’s a lot of honest conversations that the coaches have with players, and players have with players.”
This week, those conversations will include Jones telling 33 players they’ll be heading to France for the World Cup, and the pair may well get a call – something unimaginable at the start of the season.
“Eddie’s been massive for me,” Fa’amausili said.
“Everyone knows that Eddie gets stuck into me on the field in training. He’s always giving me chat.
“He just wants the best for me. I know where the chat is coming from. He’s just pushing me to my limits and just really wants to see me change my mindset.
“I knew how big this opportunity was for me. I knew that this was … the opportunity I needed to make a statement to get into the squad going to France.
“Hopefully my performance has done that.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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