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Israel Folau is a great signing for the NSW Waratahs and Australian rugby generally. I believe this because in my view league converts (‘converts’) are very successful in rugby union.
Rugby union held onto its amateur roots a little bit longer than rugby league (for example, luring away some potential greats like Wally Lewis who was stuck behind Ella) and in my view what this has meant is that rugby league has developed a little bit quicker than rugby union, as will most things when you inject money into them.
What this means from a footballing perspective is that diets, coaching, defensive structures, attacking strength and overal player ability was (and, in my opinion, still is) higher in rugby league, where the stakes are higher and overall the pay packets too.
I do not say this to intentionally denigrate rugby union or its players, but there are some hard truths (and lessons) to my interpretation. Consider the following ‘developments’ of late in rugby union:
– The increased use of the second man play (a staple of rugby league). Time after time we have seen this play ineffectually executed by rugby union teams you do not play flat enough to the line to properly execute this deception (we often see lazy runners from the Crusaders playing around in the centres, having overrun their routes).
– The rise of the importance of second phase play (again a staple of rugby league) often through the offloads in the centres. Sonny Bill Williams has highlighted two things, the potency of this tactic but also rugby union’s relatively late development of big carriers and quick runners running of their shoulders.
– The use of well known rugby league defensive patterns in rugby union, the umbrella up and in, the dominant tackle, the two man tackle. Look no further than former Eels man John Muggleton for rugby league’s emphasis and influence on line-speed and cohesion now apparent in rugby union.
– The use of Buderus as a ‘collision coach’ and Andrew Johns as a first a kicking coach with the ARU in 2007, and as a mentor for the inside backs at the Rebels in 2010.
But what does this all mean in terms Israel Folau and his potential for success in rugby union?
In my opinion, rugby league backs convert well to rugby union for these reasons:
– They are positionally acute, having become accustomed to the danger of the 40/20, the kick in behind.
– They communicate well in defence, having had to deal with much more complicated set pieces in defence than a winger would traditionally face in rugby union.
– They have defensive linespeed ingrained into them.
– They are very skillful players having to make holes, break lines or off-load against defensive setups, which are almost always reset (as opposed to union, where overlaps are easily created by pulling forwards in). They have the X-factor to make something out of nothing.
– They are much more accomplished under the highball (and Israel is one of the best) having been exposed to receiving ‘bombs’ from a young age.
I personally think that Israel ticks all these boxes and will be a great success for rugby union.
Furthermore, I believe (although it may aggravate many Roarers) that rugby union has a great deal of intellectual capital it can tap into in the form of rugby league, if (and it is a big if) it is prepared to eat some humble pie.
With the increasing emphasis on defensive structures, some sort of sharing of information between the two codes in Australia could help exploit a natural advantage (the existence of rugby league) that Australia has over say France or England.
Rugby union hasn’t seen a player be able to take it to the line, hold the ball up and pull back a pass in attack since maybe Larkham or Cooper. The sad reality is that this flat style of attack is a prerequisite of any seven or six in rugby league.
Roarers, rather than seeing rugby league as a traditional ‘drag’ on the talent pool of Rugby Union, why don’t we start viewing rugby league as a unique asset in defining an Australian method to playing rugby union?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.