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Where to now for Israel Folau?

Israel Folau runs the ball during the 1st Test against the Lions. (Photo: Paul Barkley / LookPro)
Expert
4th August, 2013
110
2439 Reads

First things first for Australian rugby, get Israel Folau’s signature on the dotted line for the next two years until after the 2015 World Cup.

Not tomorrow, not next week, or next month – today.

It is by far the most important loose end in the code to be tied up.

The constant dithering is not doing anyone any favours with Folau joining his 39 Wallaby squad mates in Sydney today in preparation for the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup series that kicks off on August 17 against the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium.

On Friday, the 40 will be cut to 30. Folau will naturally be in the final squad, but where?

Michael Cheika had Folau at full-back for the Waratahs, Robbie Deans switched him to the wing. So where will new Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie position the most electric thoroughbred in his stable?

Try inside-centre.

Before Roarers start diving for the keyboard, Folau has such great natural ability in all facets of rugby, he could play anywhere from 10 to 15 without any trouble whatsoever.

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His acute natural instinct reading a game well in advance, his size, his hands, his speed, his ability to beat a man on the inside or outside, and his under-rated defence, makes Folau a perfect fit 11.

There may be a question mark over his kicking, but what the hell, he prefers to run, and isn’t that a breath of fresh air?

Running becomes infectious, and that’s exactly what the players, and the fans, want to do, and see.

It’s the Wallaby way that has been lost in the telling. The constant kicking to stay in the opposition half has seen wingers listed as MIA.

Folau can change all that.

There’s a double bonus with the move.

If, as expected, Quade Cooper regains his 10 jersey to have Folau outside him opens up all the attacking options.

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The second bonus will be Adam Ashley-Cooper outside him, trailing the big bloke.

Especially as Ashley-Cooper is enjoying his best season, which says volumes for the 80-cap Wallaby.

So instead of being MIA, wingers will have a picnic feeding off the inside spoils.

Christian Lealiifano would be one of the wingers after losing his inside-centre post. He must be there because of his high percentage goal-kicking, and he has the speed as he showed with his 50m tearaway intercept try in the Super final.

No-nonsense Nick Cummins would be perfect on the other wing, leaving full-back as the missing link.

Brumby fans will be calling for Jesse Mogg, but he damaged his chances in the Super final.

The obvious choice is James O’Connor who must pass an integrity test this week, and in the lead-up to August 17.

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If he doesn’t blot his copybook, he has all the qualifications for the 15 jersey.

So the Wallaby backline for the All Blacks would be Will Genia (9), Quade Cooper (10), Nick Cummins (11), Israel Folau (12), Adam Ashley-Cooper (13), Christian Lealiifano (14), and James O’Connor (15).

With the backline bench of Nick Phipps, Tevita Kuridrani, and Joe Tomane now Anthony Fainga’a has been ruled out.

There’s plenty to get excited about in that lineup.

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