I mean to cast no aspersions upon the ability of Israel Folau when I say he should not be chosen for the Wallabies against the Lions. I’m sure he is a decent fellow.
He seems talented and conscientious.
To be clear, I quite like the bloke.
But he has not proven himself to be a rugby man just yet.
Like many leagues before him, he has shown an interest in our code when the money is right.
Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri, Mat Rogers and Timana Tahu have all come for the money and then left when either they are not as good at our game as they think they are, or in Sailor or Tuquri’s case, they blot their copy book off the field.
I realise that we are now in a professional era and one club men are few and far between in the professional ranks.
But three code men like Israel – and in less than four years?
That’s not the rugby I grew up with.
It should not just be whether a player deserves the jersey.
It should also be whether the jersey deserves the player.
No Wallaby jersey deserves Israel just yet, regardless of the talent the scribes suggest he has.
He has not yet shown he is a rugby man.
He has not shown loyalty to the code to enable the code to show loyalty to him.
I wish him all the best. And if he is chosen as a Wallaby, I won’t blame him, I’ll blame the selectors.
Sam
Guest
Guys, all the guys in the national team are playing for Australia and representing the nation. So let’s pick the best we got, regardless of where they are coming from. What is more important is to bring glory to Australia than saying this guy just changed the codes, the thinking like yours will keep NZ and ENG wining world cups one after the other. Be positive…. Country before anything else
Justin2
Guest
So far Folau cant kick off either foot ;)
Johnno
Guest
A long way to go for Izzy but the signs are good.
Fin
Guest
It was not my intention to sell the rest of the team sort and I believe without Cheika the Tahs would not have got Falous signature in the first place. I love Cheiks philosophy- we'll play our style and if we're good enough we'll force the opposion to play to our strengths. He is the only coach in Australia , including Deans, that thinks this way. Link did a couple of years ago but he doesn't now. Link now spends too much time over analysing the opposition and the referee- and the Reds suffer for it. The point of my comments were intented to be read more along the lines of whether we ask too much of our stars, remember most of them are only in their early twenties. I'm glad you brought up Diggers he is a great example. He wanted to go overseas in search of a paypacket to look after his extended family during his last contract negotiation. An admirable quality for a young man. He has now decided that the rewards were not enough here and he'll grab the cash overseas. Can you blame him - of course not. Should he no longer be considered for the Wallabies- of course not. During the whole saga , including a fair bit of sledging from the QRU, he takes the field a plays his guts out- That's loyalty - to your teammates and your fans. It can be shown over 80 mins it doesn't need to be shown over 10 or 15 years. PR you said I am obviously a Falou fan. My answer- I am becoming one. In reality I'm a Tahs fan and I would prefer to build a team for the long term rather than one year of success. But in reality the choices are not as black and white as you suggest and excluding one would not guarantee the other. I'd really like both. If Falou only stays for a season as a Tahs fan I'd say it was worth it. As Wallabies fan I would say the same thing. And I'm not saying he should definitely be picked just that he shouldn't be excluded on the basis of 'rugby elitism' (as someone else termed it). If he is the best option he should play.
Worlds biggest
Guest
Silver, who would you pick at outside centre for the Wallabies ? AAC is by far and away the form outside centre in Australian Rugby. JOC is a very talanted player just not a 10.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
need some size and toughness plus the aura of success which Israel brings. The deadwood in the Wallaby backline-horne, Ashley cooper, barnes, McCabe, O'Connor need to give way for some real talent. I would also include Joe Tomane in the side. Folau, Tomane, Ioane is a great backline
Katipo
Guest
I've been a Mogg fan all season. Rated him a step ahead of Folau because of his rugby background and pace. But Mogg has never played a rugby union test either and under big game pressure against the Crusaders on Saturday he was exposed and he can not kick off his right foot. Could ruin him if he was to fail first test up against the Lions. In contrast Folau does have big game rugby experience albeit in state of origin. Not just experience, but domination at that level. And against the Kings Folau was Lomu-like. Robbie may not pick Folau to start in the first test, but off the bench perhaps. I think it would be a mistake to leave a weapon like Folau out of the Australian 22.
GWS
Guest
You wish you could hit ranger like qc did
Jay Jameson
Roar Rookie
The best players for the best team needs to be selected. Not the most loyal players. If Folau is the best then he should be selected. If the most loyal players were to make the team then say good bye to Australia's best winger Digby...
Dcnz
Guest
Izzy and Quadey are the x factor players that can win the Lions series for the Wallabies ... I would also have the Honey Badger and Bieber in the back line and Lilo and Kurtley on the bench .... But Robbie is not going to follow my orders ... Go the all blacks .,
Daz
Guest
Exactly Mania these guys, the ARU are thinking return on investment, not loyalty. Let's put ourselves in the player's position too. Are we committed to one employer all our lives out of loyalty? Sure, and I haven't been an employee for years, but when I was it was nice to know that if I did give loyalty it was reciprocated. Sadly I think loyalty is a dying thing, on both sides.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
Folau's time in AFL shouldn't be held against him...he had an honest crack at aussie rules and it just didn't work out. Clearly he's far more suited to RUnion. Selecting him (or not selecting him) should be on merit.
Wilson Flatley
Guest
This article is gibberish; get off your high horse. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Dr NRL
Roar Rookie
Those NRL players you mention weren't a patch on what Folau is doing right now, and I for one never bought into that hype apart from Rogers (at a stretch), who was an above average performer. Folau is menacing and destructive in a way other outside backs are not, even if he does still have a lot to learn. Bear in mind that I am not a particular fan of his either for various reasons, so no rose coloured glasses here. It actually irks me that he is playing this well.
Mike
Guest
"How much do you respect league for welcoming Sonny-Bill back with open arms?" Plenty. The only disrespect I held for certain elements in rugby league was when they were making noises about SBW being a traitor, would never be permitted back etc etc. It was all so obviously unrealistic, and I had no doubt about what would happen if SBW was interested in coming back - exactly what did happen. "They would welcome a mass murderer if it meant the chance to win or make money." No they wouldn't, and neither would rugby. But a player who thinks he can do well in another code - sure, why not?
Denby
Roar Rookie
Here here, well said.
Positive Rugby
Guest
You are obviously a big fan of Folau's Fin, but you are selling the rest of the team and the new coach a bit short there mate by attributing the resurgence to one player. Answer this, would you prefer one year of success with Folou or to build a great team long term with other, more committed players (like we have done in Qld - Digby's recent loss notwithstanding)?
John
Guest
Kurtley Beale has shown loyalty to the Code. Is he your role model? Is he the person you send to the GPS and CAS schools to meet tomorrow's Wallabies? Who would you rather have selected? They're about the same age - pick one.
Positive Rugby
Guest
Yes, Rugby elitism and that is exactly the attitude we should have. Treat the game as elite and then it will get respect. How much do you respect league for welcoming Sonny-Bill back with open arms? They would welcome a mass murderer if it meant the chance to win or make money. If Folau won't commit to rugby then don't pick him, give someone else the nod who will.
Jutsie
Guest
Great point. There is no professional sporting team or code that shows loyalty to players. Look at the way the ARU treated sharpie with the top up system. People are still in the mindset of the bygone amateur era. The game is the player's job and its a short term job with little security compared to your average job so they need to do whats best for them and no one can begrudge them that. Its a professional sport, the number 1 priority is winning the lions series so pick the players best suited to winning it, if that includes folau or george smith then pick them!