Have the Wallabies found their replacement for Israel Folau?
He refuses to talk up his chances but Dane Haylett-Petty has done his hopes of taking over the Wallabies fullback jersey no harm with a starring performance in Melbourne’s Super Rugby win over Queensland.
With Israel Folau’s World Cup likely in tatters, the Rebels skipper is one of the leading contenders to wear the No.15 jersey in Japan later this year.
Brumbies fullback Tom Banks has also put his hand up while Kurtley Beale has impressed since taking over from Folau.
The 29-year-old showed poise under pressure to steer the Rebels to a tricky 30-24 win at AAMI Park on Friday night.
Haylett-Petty ran a game high 126m, which was 49m more than any other player, lead the tackle busts with five and also scored a try.
Melbourne coach Dave Wessels said Haylett-Petty was incredibly valuable for the Rebels.
“He’s got a real presence with the team,” Wessels said.
“He doesn’t say a lot but the team gravitate towards him and one of the reasons we’ve handled pressure situations better is because Dane is there and he navigates the team through it and everyone follows him.”
Asked about his ambitions of playing test fullback rather than on the wing as he adds to his 29 test caps, Haylett-Petty said he’d love to be anywhere in the team, although admitted he enjoyed being at the back.
“I do enjoy playing at fullback and getting a little bit more involved – it’s hard to stay out of the game,” the 29-year-old said.
Haylett-Petty missed a month of matches through a toe injury, only returning for the past two games.
He said the upside of being on the bench was that he felt mentally and physically fresh.
“It was disappointing missing those weeks but the benefit is that I was able to come back when everyone else was a little bit tired,” he said.
The Rebels have one injury concern out of the match with five-eighth Quade Cooper suffering concussion after his head hit Reds centre Samu Kerevi’s knee.
Wessels said Cooper was feeling fine post-match but would “go on the concussion pathway” which could put him in doubt for next Friday’s home match against the Bulls.
AAP
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The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments