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Israel Folau's 'end times' tweet garnered some brilliant responses on Twitter
We’re in the ‘end times’ people, so you better get your s*** together.
That – broadly speaking – is the message that Wallaby Israel Folau sent out on Twitter a few hours before the Waratahs looked to take on the Lions in their Super Rugby semi-final in Johannasburg yesterday.
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While the Waratahs went on to lose 44-26 at Ellis Park, the tweet took on a life of its own, long after Folau’s side’s final chances had themselves met their own end times.
To be precise, Folau Tweeted: “We’re in the end times, repent and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ before it’s too late.”
We're in the end times, repent and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ before it's too late.
— Israel Folau (@IzzyFolau) July 27, 2018
No stranger to Twitter controversy, Folau’s Tweet garnered a massive – if mixed – response from his 121,000 followers and a legion of mischief makers who may or may not actually follow the star fullback.
While many were supportive of his message, others saw scope for humour in the ominous Tweet.
rugby4all.jp suggested: “Wouldn’t call playing the @LionsRugbyCo end times, end of season and competition maybe. Stay positive.”
https://twitter.com/rugby4all_jp/status/1023020335673700352
Jembo Wendt was more concerned with a bet he had placed: “Lord Jesus will give me $1300 via Sportsbet if you win tonight in Jo’berg.”
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Lord Jesus will give me $1300 via Sportsbet if you win tonight in Jo’berg
— Jembo Wendt (@jemmyjembo) July 27, 2018
One poster suggested Folau’s Lamborghini ownership might have been worth some reflection with the end approaching.
Repent owning your Lambo perhaps…
— Hamish McLean (@Mish_NZ) July 28, 2018
Sue questioned whether she should bother with a big shop considering armagedden is apparently upon us.
Hi Izzy, can you let me know what day this is going to happen as I don't want to do a big shop and waste time carrying it. I have a bad back you know. Thanks for sharing #OhMyGod
— NZ Sue ?? (@absoABcrazy) July 28, 2018
Flying Cabbage attempted to ease Folau’s apparent anxiety, suggesting Welsh star George North could potentially save him, should Jesus decide not to.
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George North will save you! pic.twitter.com/eqB81CAegf
— Willie M (@flying_cabbage) July 28, 2018
A Reds supporter noted his disappointment at his side’s Super Rugby performance with the end nearing.
end of season times & do I repent for supporting the Reds, Jesus H Christ!
— RapidUnscheduledDisassembler (@WMDsearcher) July 28, 2018
Many queried the point of paying upcoming bills, if an apocalypse really was on the horizon.
https://twitter.com/SamanthaJane82/status/1023476046924996608
One thing that could be in a state of ‘end times’ is his career at Waratahs. Folau is yet to sign contract but is widely expected to stay in Australian Rugby for at least another year.
If he does stay, he could well be lining out for Australia in the centre. With injuries likely keeping midfield staples Samu Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani out for the Rugby Championship, Folau has emerged as a candidate to fill in, alongside Waratahs teammate Curtis Rona and Rebels utility Reece Hodge.
Folau has is yet to start for the Wallabies in the No 13 jersey, but has lined up there 16 times for the Waratahs.
“It’s no secret that I’ve preferred [Folau] at 15, but he’s played there and we’ll just take a look and see the guys who have played on the wing, we’ll see where they’re at,” Cheika told reporters this week.
Armegedden for Folau’s fullback game maybe.
Comments on RugbyPass
The rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
76 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to comments