Two standout performances from the bench from Fijian-flyer Ben Volavola have put pressure on him earning a starting Waratahs berth.
Twice Volavola has entered Super Rugby matches, against the Reds and then the Rebels, and twice he has made a big impact.
Why not thrown him in from the beginning?
The 22 year-old Sydney-born player is versatile. He can cover both fullback and fly-half.
He is quick, has great ball skills and knows how to find the try-line. He can also kick goals, an important factor considering the Tahs goal-kicking woes, and has decent passing ability.
He can put players through holes and has added some enthusiasm and excitement to a jaded NSW backline. He has beefed up the Tahs with some attacking threat. He has that confidence and swagger that rookies do.
Bernard Foley has yet to impress at 10. He didn’t last season and he has yet to this season. It’s arguable that his best position is actually fullback.
Israel Folau is still learning the game and is far from the finished article. He has had a mixed debut, some good in with the bad, but he has looked his best on Friday night when Volavola came in at fullback and Folau shifted to the wing. He looked a lot more comfortable out on his league position. Wing should be his spot until he fully learns the mechanics of the game.
Then there is Adam Ashley-Cooper. Michael Cheika has him in the centres, not his best position in my humble opinion, and the overrated Tom Carter. Carter should not be in the first XV.
Coach Cheika has some big decisions to make, especially with Berrick Barnes and Rob Horne still out, and he needs to find a starting spot for Volavola either at 10 or 15.
A tall, strong and quick back, Volavola has earned his place in the Waratahs squad.
He starred for the Under-20s at the IRB Junior World Championship in 2011 and has played for NSW A. He made his first grade club debut for West Harbour in 2010 when he was still at school. He won a second grade premiership with Southern Districts in 2011. He turned heads helping Souths into the Shute Shield first grade grand final last season. The Newington College and Endeavour Sports High School product further impressed with his dynamism in the Waratahs pre-season trials this year.
He was born in Sydney to Fijian parents but spent his early life in Fiji. Volavola returned to Australia in 2000 and looks to be a natural playmaker with silky skills, with dreams of becoming a Wallaby.
His emergence is another example that club rugby continues to develop good players, and that more jewels like him and Jesse Mogg are there waiting to be found.
Volavola has looked more assured with each Super Rugby game. Now it’s time to see what he can do from the opening whistle.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
carnivean
Roar Rookie
I guess Timani Jnr isn't considered safe enough to start, or even play significant minutes. The pack picked is all about experienced players that won't be as affected by the pressure.
El Capitain
Guest
Starting Fullback this weekend. Izzy on the Wing.
Jutsie
Guest
Albo other than barnes (still out injured) you have nailed the starting backline for this weekend: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/folau-shifts-to-wing-as-volavola-gets-callup-20130307-2fnlw.html Good to see chieks rewarding voilava for his excellent form of the bench. Some puzzling selections in the pack though, dennis to 8, chapman to 6 and Timani snr back in the row. I wouldve preferred a straight swap of jnr timani in for the injured palu.
Terry Kidd
Guest
Albo I have no problem with that backline at all. One word of caution for all you guys who have praised young Ben and touted his skill set .... not one of you has mentioned defence. I have noticed that he does not seem keen to tackle. Have you all noticed it as well? Is that why you haven't rated his defence? Give the young bloke some time. I agree that he looks good but give him some time, and stop bagging Foley. He is doing ok in my opinion. Yes, I have criticized Tom Carter because he is an anchor to the backline and can't play the style the rest obviously want. Have you noticed that Foley has resorted to cutting Carter out? Why? Because Carter cannot draw and pass, cannot beat a man, can only run straight ..... slowly.
Jutsie
Guest
Wasnt link even playing horwill at 6 early in 2012 (or was that 2011) you may be right about gill being ahead of robinson in links mind but im sure there were games early in 2012 where he started robo ahead of gill or both as 6/7 with higgy at 8. Im not happy with higgy being at the rebs either, id prefer them to develop jones as a 6. We should do a swap u can have higgy back and we'll take robinson, we desperately need a quality fetcher (I think saffy is more a small 6 than a classic 7).
formeropenside
Guest
Actually, I disagree. In 2011 Beau started ahead of Gill, but in 2012 Gill was clearly first choice, although he may have been rested on occasion (and was wasted on the U20 WC). Quirk has been good, but was injured for most of 2012 - and taking Higgy out of the Reds pack meant that the injuries to Samo and Horwill left the Reds short of a running forward, and has also impacted on the Reds lineout significantly. I'd still prefer to have Higgy at the Reds, and perhaps as a result Ah Wong would not be in the EPS. Who knows, maybe Melbourne would have picked up Chapman instead of him going to NSW. So yeah, I still think the ARU are useless.
Jutsie
Guest
I like how ewen is whining this year that no one is taking notice of quirk and gill but a year ago he was preferring robinson to gill and higgy, samo, schatz to quirk. When qld supporters were having ago at the ARU for letting higgy go to the rebels i suggested that it was a blessing in disguise as young guys like schatz and quirk would get a go ahead of the big soft seagull higgy, the laughter at my expense was deafening lol.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Played a lot of games last year off the bench. Ewen said that he's made huge strides between seasons.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
So even though he wasn't born in Fiji, he'd call himself Fijian-born? In spite of the evidence otherwise?
Jagman
Guest
I know quirk has been at the reds for a few seasons now but I think he's been injured a lot. Already had 3 shoulder reconstructions.
PJ
Guest
I am still to understand the constant Tom Carter bashing? Is it because he is ouspoken, a niggler and sledger on the field? He is constantly in the top 3 performers for the Waratahs EVERY week. I would suggest if he wasnt such and in your face player he would have played at least 50 tests for the Wallabies. Is Pat McCabe or Anthony Faingga that much of a different and better player than TC? Luckily the team is not selected byu the people on here.
mania
Guest
jameswm - and where was quirk?
jameswm
Roar Guru
Quirk was there. Vv has come through the Sydney club ranks, rather than via junior high performacne units and academies. Vv's team lost the Sydney club GF to the pro-laden Sydney Uni outfit.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Foley and Vv can run as well as create.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I'm not a big fan of TC's, but when he's there the team usually wins. Look at their win-loss record with and without him. They cut him in attack when necessary.
winston
Roar Rookie
Substitute "Vv" for "Falou" and you are spot on
winston
Roar Rookie
Toeava already had that one
mania
Guest
where were some of these guys last year? Volavola and Quirk def couldve been useful.
bluerose
Guest
is an Islander thing.......our roots/culture/heritage and tradition always comes first.....its what we called ''our identity'',
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Fair call. A few more games from the bench and then maybe the odd start to see how he goes. Good to hear that he has played first five. That will have been good experience whenever that was but hopefully now he can concentrate on being a fullback. Maybe next year he might be called into the Wallaby setup to get the feel. Or we could play him against the Lions with his good mate Israel on the wing for familiarity. They will also be able to "carve up anybody" now.