'Naturally he's an athlete. Before he came in, he hadn't played rugby union before'
As if the beleaguered Sunwolves didn’t have enough on their plate dealing with Super Rugby’s new try-scoring king Israel Folau on Friday night.
Now it’s potentially double trouble for the bottom-placed and soon-to-be-extinct Sunwolves, with Folau’s younger brother John in line to make his NSW Waratahs debut at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium.
John Folau, in his maiden season at the Waratahs after switching codes from rugby league, was promoted to the bench on Thursday after winger Curtis Rona was ruled out with a groin injury.
While Alex Newsome will start as Rona’s replacement, the 24-year-old Folau is almost certain to be unleashed on the Sunwolves at some point in the second half.
A former Queensland under-20s rugby league representative, Folau played one Test for Tonga in the 13-man code and three NRL games for Parramatta before joining Israel at the Waratahs in the off-season.
Waratahs assistant coach Chris Whitaker, who also coached Folau in last year’s National Rugby Championship, is confident the rookie will handle the step up.
“He’s taken huge progression,” Whitaker said on match eve.
“Before he came in, he hadn’t played rugby union before.
“He’s obviously watched his brother play so he’s learnt a fair bit off his brother.
“But he’s been good. He’s been in there doing extra hours and just learning positional play.
“Naturally he’s an athlete. He’s got all the attributes to be a top player. Now it’s just about getting game time.”
Getting the call-up so late will also help, Whitaker believes.
“He doesn’t have the build-up that he would have (had), and the nerves. He’s coming in late so I think it will be good for him,” Whitaker said.
“He can switch straight back in to it and enjoy it. Just play his natural game.
“Sometimes he’s got a tendency to over-think. He’s just a natural player that I think he’s just got to back himself and his instin cts will just kick in.
“So don’t think too much and just play.”
Wallabies superstar Israel Folau, who last week joined former Blues and All Blacks winger Doug Howlett as Super Rugby’s all-time joint top try scorer with 59 five-pointers, has been a key figure in his brother’s transition to the 15-man code.
“They’ve been pretty good at training. They run at each other and they gee each other up a fair bit,” Whitaker said.
“So it’s good. I dare say Izzy will look after him on the field and show him the ropes.”
AAP
Comments on RugbyPass
This team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe 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
11 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.
11 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
55 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 comments