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Wallabies rookie reveals 12-test wait for his international debut
All things come to those who wait.
Just ask ever-patient Wallabies centre Lalakai Foketi, who’s been gazing dolefully at Dave Rennie’s dreaded black book for four-and-half months now, waiting for the moment the coach might give him the news he craves.
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For 12 tests – be it at home to France, in the Rugby Championship, in Japan or now in Britain – the Waratahs’ stalwart has been a diligent member of Rennie’s Australia squad but never got the call for the match-day 23.
Each week, he reckoned, followed a pattern. “Normally, Rens comes around the room or the hotel with a black book looking for you if you’re unfortunate not to make the 23,” explained Foketi.
But at the lucky 13th time of asking on Monday, Eureka!
“I’ve been there for a while now, so I’ve had a few of them, so I was waiting, waiting for him to come up to me – and he never did,” added Foketi.
“And when 22 came up on the screen in the team meeting and my name was announced, I was grateful – and shocked.”
So, at last, Foketi is a chance to make that long-awaited debut off the replacements’ bench against Wales on Sunday morning (AEDT) and it’s left the 26-year-old New Zealand-born back overjoyed.
“I just want to play some footy,” said the former junior Wallaby.
It can’t have been the easiest time for Foketi as he’s had to miss out on playing while also not having seen his partner Mason and their one-year-old girl Huxlee seemingly for an age.
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“Not being selected in the 23 for however long, you get those moments where you start doubting yourself,” he reflected.
“But I know why I’m here and as soon as I’m around the boys, it’s a lot easier and on training days you forget about it and refocus on your goals.”
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has painted Australia’s end-of-tour clash against Wales in Cardiff as a battle between two sides “desperate” to end injury-hit campaigns on a high. #Wallabies #WALvAUS #AutumnNationsSeries https://t.co/1l5FXVmIru
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 19, 2021
Rennie has been supportive. “Just honest and good feedback about where I was as a footy player and what the team needed,” said Foketi.
“Obviously, I’ve been disappointed but the team comes first. It wasn’t my time – until this week.
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“He (Rennie) gave me a few points each week to work on and I guess instead of walking around with my head down, it was, ‘What can I do to make them have to select me?'”
Rennie appreciates the professionalism of the former Melbourne Rebels centre.
“Lalakai’s trained the house down. He deserves the opportunity,” says the coach.
“He gives us versatility, can generally cover 12 and 13, excellent distributor, really good feet, making really big shifts around the physical side of his game, a clean tackler with a really good kicking game and a really good communicator.”
Who will Foketi be thinking of as he lines up in Cardiff? “My family back home will all be with me when I’m out there – and I’ll be thinking of them,” said Foketi.
Especially one small fan.
“We left in June so I missed Huxlee’s first birthday in July,” he sighed. “On video, she’s been walking, talking, starting to feed herself and it’s awesome to see.
“She’s changed my life for the better, so it’s great.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“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.
22 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
3 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.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments