Prized recruit Israel Folau will play a big part in the NSW Waratahs trials as coach Michael Cheika weighs up whether he starts the Super Rugby season at fullback or wing.
The Waratahs play their first trial against Melbourne in Hobart on Saturday week before having pipe openers against the Blues and finally the Crusaders leading into their Super Rugby opener against Queensland on February 23.
Folau is one of many pieces in the backline puzzle for Cheika to solve before the Reds’ clash.
“He’ll play, yes,” said the new Waratahs coach of former rugby league star and AFL flop Folau’s involvement in the trials.
“He’s not like someone’s Christmas present, we’re not going to unwrap him on a certain day.
“He needs to play and get used to it like every other player who has come here.
“He comes from a different code or he comes from the academy … it’s the same thing. He’s a winger or fullback at this stage.
“He’s got a good kick on him … it’s different in rugby though. Not only is it a different ball but there are different situations.”
Whatever position he plays in the trials, Cheika wants Folau to keep it simple and stick to what he does best.
“We’re just looking for him to play his natural attacking game whether it be in the air or on the ground,” Cheika said.
Halfback Brendan McKibbin, who got a late call-up to the Wallabies’ European tour last year, will captain the Waratahs in the first two trials.
Cheika said most of the players returning from Wallabies’ duty won’t feature until the third trial, creating opportunities for others to show what they have to offer.
“Because I don’t know the group intimately as far as selection is concerned I think the first one or two (trials) will definitely be big games for some of the players who are looking to secure places,” Cheika said.
“There’s some players who have been on the fringe here in the past year and then some club players as well who are playing for the possibility of a contract further down the road.
“I’ll be looking for them to bring a big intensity … not just run out and have a go.
“…The prime objective is to be ready with a team that’s able to beat Queensland in round one.”
peeeko
Roar Guru
that 1.5 mln was the number reported by Danny Weidler, so take it with a large grain of salt
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Jutsie 2015 is late to make the RWC though: he would have to establish himself and gain international experience in just that year, by which time whoever stays will have probably established themselves. Realistically it probably means he won't play in the 2015 RWC. Besides, why does he have to go....
Jutsie
Guest
At first i thought it was bad news but he is going for one year and expects to be back in aus in 2015. He wants to test himself against some of the best scrummagers in the world so good on him, he can gain alot from the experience.
Bakkies
Guest
He didn't play that many Rugby games as a junior. Would have been way less then Mat Rogers in any case.
Bakkies
Guest
McMeniman was a crock who needed to be involved in an environment where there is less games. I doubt Palmer would be on big money in France and he is behind Alexander and Kepu at the Wallabies. I don't rate Kepu but Palmer has missed two test campaigns through injury and there was no guarantee that Deans would have picked him. I hope he goes back to the Brumbies but I wouldn't count on it. Palmer would only be paid by the Brumbies. Being in the leadership group and a more senior player he wouldn't be on a bad salary.
Hightackle
Guest
Tuqiri, Thorn, Sailor and more were not only competitive in their first season but they made the national team. I think Izzy will be a Wallaby in 2013 at some stage but Im not sure he will be a great one.
stillmatic1
Guest
yeah because rugby league has 16 fully functioning, financially stable teams with superstars throughout, right KPM!!? ohh, thats right, they don't have that at all. maybe the NRL are missing all the talent and its all going to the chess clubs..................
Albo
Guest
Folau's junior rugby career cannot be discounted. Granted it's a huge step up and long time between but it certainly counts for something, however small.
MAJB
Guest
I have just read Jonathon Davies semi-autobiography “Codebreaker” where he discusses to difficulties he had, at first, adapting to League. Considering the complexities of Rugby and Davies extraordinary talent, I think Folau will struggle a bit longer to adapt to Rugby than Davies did to League. Folau will not be competitive for at least 2 to 3 seasons.
Justin2
Guest
No pathway is perfect Andy, even the afl miss guys, hence numerous mature age recruits.
AndyS
Guest
Or, in other words, the requirement that they have to still be at school is an unnecessary and seemingly pointless restriction. If they were all developed at club level anyway, why not just make it U18s and be done with it. Who are they trying to exclude and why? It also begs the question hy Australan Schools get twice as much money each year than either the ACT or WA get to run all levels of community rugby.
Justin2
Guest
Andy, check the asru website and the eligibility page. It's pretty straight forward and is effectively an under 18s team. Therefore the best players regardless of where they play, be it club or school, are involved.
AndyS
Guest
Justin, looking down the list of VSRU members, only two would appear to be be government schools. If they supplied all the players the rest need to have a look at their programs. The other possibility is that the VRU is actually ignoring the VSRU for the schools team and picking the team as an under 18s regardless of which school they attend. If that is the case, it merely proves my point about it how it is actually the clubs doing the real development. But my actual point was that there are 18 teams as part of the VSRU. That is 18 out of what, at least 500 secondary schools in Victoria? Can the sport really afford to be that selective, or rely on a schools championship as their best equivalent to the AFLs U18 national carnival? The AFL is all inclusve, that is why they are big. Rugby may never be as big doing the same thing, but it will be even smaller if it does less.
allblackfan
Guest
my apollogies to jutsie and BB: i left out a word - NEVER. I will repeat myself correctly this time: Those matches are NEVER shown!
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
It's a bad sign Johnno, especially as Palmer is a young player in the last position the Wallabies can afford to lose someone: prop. Another point is this. Normally it isn't players on their way up, just breaking in, that leave for riches, as they are normally so excited about the prospect of playing international rugby. It tends instead to be those who are established internationals and therefore being offered fortunes or those towards the end thinking of wealth in retirement. But for a player to leave after one cap suggests the ARU is failing in keeping its players. To be fair to JON, the last major player to leave (who was not towards the end of their career) aside from Luke Burgess (who had the reason of Genia to leave), was Mcmeniman and that was really a long time ago. That the new ARU regime has already managed to lose one budding youngster is a very bad sign!
p.Tah
Guest
Andy, rugby will never be as big as AFL in Australia, especially if it just does what they do. IMO if rugby is to grow it needs to do things differently. The Varsity concept is not perfect but it's unique, a point of difference. I want to see the details, but perhaps it's the point of difference that will help the game. I went to Uni with several guys who had professional contracts. It was tough for them to train, study and for some of them work as well. They got there in the end. I agree however that there is a risk that the concept may perpetuate the idea that rugby is elitist. That's a battle the code will always fight here. I don't have the answer to that but perhaps they can turn the idea of a good education (it's not all about sport) into something aspirational. Anyway the Varsity concept is just a proposal by RUPA. It may not get off the ground.
Johnno
Guest
. KPM, you know what it is bad new but doesn’t surprise me. French rugby is now bring in some serious money, it’s heading towards some of the top soccer leagues in Europe slowly. Johnny S**ton , Irish 5/8 eight who i think is only average on the test stage, he has been offered wait for it. A rumoured 750,000 euros per season. Incredible . That is $950,000 per season in Australian dollars KPM. Big money we’re talking for a rugby player. The money is clearly there and only going to get bigger as the tv deals increase . SBW was offered around 1.5million per year to stay at Toloun but chose the world cup instead. I’d go too if i was Dan Palmer big money. A 6th super rugby team would help tv rights KPM, if the ARU only realised this. Going to get worse more players will leave . Only the beginning. Folau if he is any good will leave soon too for french rugby i reckon. JOC, who has said he wouldn't mind a sting may go over there, . And guys like Will Genia, too.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Isn't this bad news? http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/palmer-to-bid-adieu-to-brumbies-20130126-2de3k.html
Justin2
Guest
Andy you are barking up the wrong tree I'm afraid. Check out the schools where the Victorian kids came from last year. All government high schools, these kids are not rich. Most kids at school play rugby for that school, if its not a rugby school they play at club. and clearly will be selected if they are good enough.
Billy Bob
Guest
AB fan, where? And when? And another thing.... Why is there not a central ARU web-site that pumps out emails every day to subscribers who want to know when and where games will be screened? We are obviously passionate for the game. We are reading and writing blogs. Why do we have to ask each other like farmers at the gate what's going on? Wake up ARU !