Far from taking offence at being bumped from fullback yet again, Wallabies star Adam Ashley-Cooper is embracing his switch to the NSW Waratahs wing.
Sounding an alarm for the Melbourne Rebels on Friday night, Ashley-Cooper said he relished the wing position because it’ll give him more freedom to roam in attack.
Waratahs coach Michael Foley continued a trend that’s become all too familiar for Ashley-Cooper, both with the Wallabies and his former Super Rugby team the Brumbies, when he took advantage of his versatility for the clash with the Rebels at AAMI Park.
Wanting to make room for the impressive Bernard Foley, he picked him at fullback and shifted Ashley-Cooper to the wing in place of youngster Brackin Karauria-Henry.
“I’ve certainly got no problems with that,” said Ashley-Cooper, who had also spent much time at outside centre.
“I love the wing. I think that wing probably gives me the most freedom actually.
“15 (fullback) at times can be a little structured, so I’m really going to embrace the wing this week and really go searching for that ball.”
With former Waratah Kurtley Beale ruled out of the Melbourne side, newcomer Foley is well aware of the threat from the prodigious kicking of Rebels replacement fullback Mark Gerrard.
“I have played against him and he does have an absolute monstrous boot and I think he will be a challenge,” Foley said.
“But then also having (five-eighth) Danny Cipriani, with his left-foot kicking the other side of the field is another challenge.”
Foley has spent most of his career at five-eighth but played several games at fullback for Sydney University.
One intriguing head-to-head battle on Friday will be between Waratahs’ hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau and his former NSW team-mate and rival Adam Freier.
“I’m pretty sure he’ll be looking forward to getting in amongst the action,” said Polota-Nau.
“I actually look forward to confronting him, but also trying to get the better of him too.
“I’ve got the (afro) hair nice and fluffed up today, so hopefully he can feel the action amongst the scrum.”
Asked if Freier was a good sledger, Polota-Nau said “Usually, but I’ll let my actions do the sledging.
“For me, it’s important that we probably worry about our own sort of stuff, rather than listen to his little niggles.”
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