Folau can change union says Gibson
Sonny Bill Williams’ indefensible offload changed rugby union and Israel Folau’s vertical leap has the potential to do the same, according to new NSW Waratahs assistant coach Daryl Gibson.
Former All Black Gibson, who helped mould the Crusaders’ potent backline when Williams made his Super Rugby debut, watched Folau train for the first time with NSW on Thursday.
It was a low-key hit-out, with Folau laying a couple of slick passes and making a handful of line breaks during drills, but Gibson was already thinking big about the impact a bulked-up Folau can have on the 15-man game.
“Sonny brought to union some skills he had from league and he’s changed our game,” Gibson said.
“Israel, particularly with his aerial ability, could potentially do the same.
“It’s not a skill we’re particular adept at. He spent two years catching and kicking (in the AFL) and we’d be foolish not to utilise that skill.”
Gibson, part of the Crusaders’ foundation squad in 1996 and involved in union ever since, said he’d never seen anything like Folau’s ability to leap and snaffle the high ball.
“And what I haven’t seen in union a lot is the ability to catch the ball above your head, and that’s a skill he’s going to bring to our game,” Gibson said.
“Absolutely (it could change the game) and what it will change is teams’ ability to defend us.
“If the backfield is worried about his aerial game, then it obviously opens up opportunities elsewhere on the field.
“We’re going to have to exploit that.”
Folau spoke of his desire to take on the All Blacks on Tuesday, and Gibson revealed the 23-year-old’s switch to union had already created waves in his rugby-mad homeland.
“I got a number of texts from people back in New Zealand who were excited to see him go,” Gibson said.
“A few (Super Rugby) coaches and obviously players (sent messages). It’s neat that they’re aware we’ve signed someone of his calibre.”
Folau, who coach Michael Cheika says will play in the back three, will initially be shielded from contact work while he learns the intricacies of the ruck.
The code-hopper’s other major challenge will be to re-design his physique after shedding seven kilograms to prepare for the endurance required in AFL.
But Cheika said Folau will do a lot of running without the ball for the ‘Tahs and his body transformation won’t be overly severe.
“Maybe somewhere in the middle (of his playing weights in AFL and NRL). I can’t be sure, there’s no exact science to this,” Cheika said.
“I don’t know if it’s about upper chest or lower body. Most players know the weight they feel comfortable at. You got to go with your gut feel.
“It (Folau’s preparation for Super Rugby) is not really about that. It’s about footy.”
© AAP 2013- Explore:
- Israel Folau, Rugby Union
December 7th 2012 @ 9:03am
TC said | December 7th 2012 @ 9:03am | Report comment
Now that we’ve stripped the hysterical rubbish out of the way, it’s good to hear from inside the tahs’ camp about what they have in mind for Izzy. It sounds pretty exciting, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it unfolds.
But if we’re honest, one year won’t be enough, so I’m hoping both parties like enough of each other to extend terms, and then we’re getting into the realms of he-can-be-anything.
TC
December 7th 2012 @ 9:09am
Rusty said | December 7th 2012 @ 9:09am | Report comment
so its going to be take it forward a few times and then a hanging kick?
December 7th 2012 @ 9:19am
Albo said | December 7th 2012 @ 9:19am | Report comment
The beauty of having someone who’s so aerially efficient out wide means that defences are going to have to commit numbers on the edge when the Tahs are close to the line. This will mean there will be much bigger holes in the middle to be taken advantage of by the centres and loose forwards.
As TC says, hyperbole aside these are all developments that will be interesting to see unfold. It sounds like good things are happening in Camp W and the coaches look to be saying the right things. We’ll see how to comes out in the wash of the competition.
December 11th 2012 @ 12:23pm
Neuen said | December 11th 2012 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
Why do they need to do that? If the defender is out wide no matter how bad he can catch a ball all he need to do is jump and slap the ball behind the dead ball line or out the touchline.
December 11th 2012 @ 12:30pm
PeterK said | December 11th 2012 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
hitting the ball out is a penalty offence. do it enough and a yellow card or penalty try will be given.
You cannot use the hands to knock a ball over touch or the deadball line.
December 11th 2012 @ 1:05pm
Neuen said | December 11th 2012 @ 1:05pm | Report comment
Let me rephrase that. Tip it back to a “team mate”. But it is easier to catch a high ball or take a pass when coming forwards, rather than going backwards. But everyone knows in rugby that if you watch the opposition number 10′s shoulders where they point is generally the direction in which the kick will go. So I don’t think he will cause much off a difference there as with the cross kick you need to catch the defense out unaware for it to work. I think he might be a force in defense IMO
December 7th 2012 @ 9:54am
Worlds Biggest said | December 7th 2012 @ 9:54am | Report comment
Great to hear from Daryl Gibson, I think he is going to bring a lot to the table. There is plenty of enthusiasm coming out of the Tahs and signing Izzy has amplified that. After years of dross under Hickey and Foley I think Tahs supporters should be feeling optimistic under Cheika.
December 7th 2012 @ 9:55am
Pollock said | December 7th 2012 @ 9:55am | Report comment
Be good to see of they can implement what they are saying
December 7th 2012 @ 10:22am
Crash Ball said | December 7th 2012 @ 10:22am | Report comment
Don’t worry about having “the ability to catch a ball above your head” – having the ability to catch a ball at all surely warrants an immediate gold jersey.
December 7th 2012 @ 10:32am
Willy T Soak said | December 7th 2012 @ 10:32am | Report comment
Amen!!!!
December 7th 2012 @ 11:49am
Dan said | December 7th 2012 @ 11:49am | Report comment
You didn’t happen to catch the last minute of the Wales game by any chance did you?
December 7th 2012 @ 10:47am
nzmate said | December 7th 2012 @ 10:47am | Report comment
I think having aerial skills like Folau is nice to have, in the same way Cory Jane is so adept in the air for the All Blacks. Two things though. The attacking kick in league gets used a lot more because a. each team has regular possession at the attacking end of the field, and b. the relatively flat defensive line in league and the knowledge you will have to hand possession over on the next play make it a much more effective and positive scoring play. In union unless you get it 100% correct, an attacking kick in the 22 is a lot riskier with a return on possession or points less certain, due in part to the ability for the defensive team to call a mark. I guess what im saying is that his aerial skills will be useful, but his game awareness, support play and ball in hand skills will be a lot more important to master.
December 7th 2012 @ 10:58am
Ash said | December 7th 2012 @ 10:58am | Report comment
The ABs have been so superior to us with the high ball in the last few years maybe Izzy can turn this around.
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December 7th 2012 @ 11:09am
nickoldschool said | December 7th 2012 @ 11:09am | Report comment
Am sceptical about aerial ability being a match winning thing in union on a regular basis. I can see a long kick aimed at the winger being used from time to time but I don’t see it as a ‘secret weapon’.
Some teams have used it in the past and if it was that a brilliant idea, it would have been used and abused. Kicking accuracy, timing , receivers ability to catch the ball despite defence pressure, there are many variables. Am curious to see what Folau and the coaches can do to utilise this particular skill, provided he really has it.
December 7th 2012 @ 11:16am
Hurl said | December 7th 2012 @ 11:16am | Report comment
All the Tahs need now is a 1st 5 that can kick….
December 7th 2012 @ 12:14pm
nickoldschool said | December 7th 2012 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
Yep and hours spent at training rehearsing.
My amateur team used to abuse it when I was playing and I was always thinking the long kick to the winger is the last resort thing, the sort of stuff you do when you know you won’t beat opponents defence or do not have that many other skills/ options, which was our case! But i always think a good team should try to find other ways rather than kick possession away and possibly give a counter attacking option to the opponent.
That’s why I am curious, and sceptical, to see how they can use it effectively. A few times in a season yes, a secret weapon used at every match, definitely not IMHO.
December 7th 2012 @ 11:38am
Bearfax said | December 7th 2012 @ 11:38am | Report comment
Good luck to the kid. He’s certainly very talented and suited to the rugby codes. Unfortunate he didnt come back to League but rightly that’s his decision. I suspect also the inertia of Leagues Admin is addressing the cap issue didnt help. This present board needs to be shown the back door post haste. Get some people in their that listen to the fans,players and clubs and can make decisions expeditiously. As for Folau I think he should do very well in the 15 player team and maybe eventually get into the test team. Imagine him as an outside back. I’m a League man myself, but enjoy a good union game (when tries are being scored) and I look forward to watching Folau with the Waratahs, though I think the Reds are the team to watch..