Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie has had a bullet-biting week, sacking six of his squad for one game after a boozy night out in Dublin and warning nine others, but the bullet-biting doesn’t finish there.
Tevita Kuridrani has been given a five-week suspension for a dangerous tackle in the Ireland game, and with Adam Ashley-Cooper and Nick Cummins two of the sacked six, there’s no one to wear the 13 jersey against Scotland at the weekend,
Israel Folau’s the answer.
It would mean taking the big bloke out of his comfort zone at fullback, but McKenzie hasn’t an option.
It would be a master-stroke. Folau has the size, the pace, he can beat a man, has great hands, while his defence and off-loading have improved with each game.
What makes it even more exciting is Matt Toomua, going great guns at inside centre, would have two playmakers either side of him – Quade Cooper inside and Folau outside.
Regular Roarers may well recall I suggested Folau as an inside centre when he first switched from AFL.
Coach Michael Cheika decided fullback was better, while Robbie Deans thought wing was his spot in the Wallabies.
Moving Folau to 13 gives Bernard Foley his first chance in the starting lineup at 15, a chance he thoroughly deserves.
That leaves two wing spots for Scotland between Joe Tomane, Peter Betham and Chris Feauai-Sautia, with the first two the senior players, leaving Feauai-Sautia with a bench selection.
The squad decimation hasn’t affected the first choice pack, only the bench, with Benn Robinson and Tatafu Polota-Nau to be watching from the Murrayfield stand.
So the Wallaby lineup would look like this:
(1) James Slipper
(2) Stephen Moore
(3) Sekope Kepu
(4) Rob Simmons
(5) James Horwill
(6) Scott Fardy
(7) Michael Hooper
(8) Ben Mowen (c)
(9) Will Genia
(10) Quade Cooper
(11) Peter Betham
(12) Matt Toomua
(13) Israel Folau
(14) Joe Tomane
(15) Bernard Foley
(16) Saia Fainga’a
(17) Ben Alexander
(18) Paddy Ryan
(19) Sitaleki Timani
(20) Ben McCalman
(21) Nick Phipps
(22) Christian Lealiifano
(23) Chris Feauai-Sautia
For all the drama and disruption, that side has a very positive look about it
It has flair and speed in the revamped backline.
Foley, Phipps, Betham, and Feauai-Sutia have been straining on a leash to be given a crack to show what they can do, while Alexander has the chance to get back into the good books after a couple of very ordinary games.
But Israel Folau will be the story before, during and after the game.
And Ewen McKenzie can stop bullet-biting.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Red Kevin you & Jiggles said Izzy would be useless player full stop , give yourself a double uppercut
jeznez
Roar Guru
MS, the point I'm making about Tahu is he was ill equipped to play in the centres for the Wallabies. Pretty sure at this stage Izzy is as well. Am a big Foley fan and I expect we'll see him at 15 some time this weekend. He is the player that when subs are made will give McKenzie options with his replacements. Once Foley goes to 15 Israel can move to centre or wing and the options from 11-14 open up.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Na
Magic Sponge
Guest
Crap centre pairing. CL has not done much at 12
Magic Sponge
Guest
Jez I usually agree with ya but Tahu was always going to offer nothing in union. I'd like Foley to get a run at fullback. Foley is so underrated .. Izzy is a bit out of position in defence at fullback and a good te to test him at 13.
Kipper
Guest
Got to love the 4 floors TT :-)
RobC
Guest
Yep. Lets not "Cooperise" Folau and count chickens before they hatch. Let him prove himself sustainably. If it ever happens, then it will be self evident.
Harry
Guest
You would have got big money for that being Australia's centre combination for a test at the beginning of the season. Welll maybe not Lilo, but Mikey Mike? Anyway I suspect they'll go OK and Quade doesn't have to worry about goalkicking with the two sharpshooters at 12 and 13.
Jack Petro
Guest
Forwards stay the same - they did a great job last week; Back - Halves - Genia / Cooper Wings - Feauai-Sautia / Tomane Centres - Harris / Leali’ifano FB - Folau Gives great balance and an attacking ability - good defensive players out wide too ....
Justin3
Guest
you'd be better changing your name to I want to boofd the honey badger
Waikato07
Guest
Love the idea of Falou at 13 - i really hope it happens, imagine him cutting with Toomua, over the advantage line quick ball out wide.... wingers and full back running off him - if he gets his passing / off loading going he will start finding huge holes as defenders are worried about who's going to get the ball. Would be an awesome move and one I think should have been tried by now. Would be even more of a threat at 12.
Waikato07
Guest
Love the idea of Falou at 13 - i really hope it happens, imagine him cutting with Toomua, over the advantage line quick ball out wide.... wingers and full back running off him - if he gets his passing / off loading going he will start finding huge holes as defenders are worried about who's going to get the ball. Would be an awesome move and one I think should have been tried by now. Would be even more of a threat at 12.
DR
Guest
Hey Chan, I guess it's all about the midfield partnership. The better partnerships seem to be one bigger than the other. I personally like the 12 to be the powerful one but there is no set way to do it if you have a great combo. Folau is good enough to make a fist of any of those positions IMO. Just needs the time to learn. And no, I don't mean JGITF ;)
Chan Wee
Guest
@ DR : A while back I advocated Folau at 12. However someone explained to me that traditionally Auzzy have their big center at 13. Dont know if this is the rationale for DL's post . Some international teams have a big center at 12 : Nonu , JDV , Roberts , BOD Others have at 13 : Tuilagi , Fiku / Basteraud , Kuridrani IMO both Beale & JOC are better fullbacks than Folau , simply becoz they have the "sense" to position. Folau can be excused , becoz he has not played enough rugger to get that kind of sense. Also he lacks the attacking nous that Dagg has , vision and tactiks , which again comes for years of experience in the position.. Jason Robinson is one player who did manage to cross over and 'learn" the tactiks and sense. But then again, he had a lot of experience in the game, whihc Folau lacks.
DR
Guest
Would love to see how Folau would do at 12. I'm adamant that would be his best position given time. The Wallabies backs at the moment are a bit of a trap at the moment i feel. When I think back to the ABs of 99-03 there was a lot of stuffing around with players to accomadate a numerous talent. Trying to fit too many wrong pieces into the jigsaw puzzle. If Beale and Bieber come back and are playing well it only adds to the dilemma in the future. Hopefully Link won't fall into the same trap. Anyhow I like that back line. Hoping to have a look at CFS this weekend.
jeznez
Roar Guru
David does hop around a little - back in August he wanted Izzy to play 12. http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/08/05/where-to-now-for-israel-folau/ Then in September he said he must stay at fullback for the rest of the year. http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/09/04/folau-a-must-at-fullback-in-rejigged-wallabies/ Now he wants him in 13 and is looking forward to when Godwin is at 12 with Izzy outside him. Strangely Godwin hasn't played a match since before that article in August - not sure how Kyle has managed to change his mind. For mine I like Chris Feauai-Sautia at 13 this week as he has played there. He is injury prone though and I would have Izzy as the first reserve to fill that 13 spot if anything happens. Like many other Roarer's in like the specialist backline that is available: 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. Tomane 12. Leali'ifano 13. Feauai-Sautia 14. Betham 15. Folau On the bench I like White, Foley and Harris and wouldn't consider leaving one out to bring in an extra forward. Ultimately I agree with the August article from David but want to see Israel trialled at 12 and given a chance to develop there for the Waratahs before we risk putting him in that position for the Wallabies. Would hate to see a repeat of what happened to another talented Leaguie in Timana Tahu who was thrown to the wolves in the centres and was burnt badly. All in all - while I think some experimentation is worthwhile with Folay at Super level - for now he is making an excellent fist of fullback and getting better each time he plays and am very comfortable with him staying there for now.
Chan Wee
Guest
The only difference between Conrad & Ben is tackling. Conrad is a far superior center defensively and good in attack. Ben Smith is a good attacker but struggles defensively. However it is all relative; Ben is a good defender , but just as not good as Conrad :)
Wozza
Guest
Glad your not a selector. Genia Cooper/Lealifano Toomua/Godwin Kurindrani Beale AAC Folau White/Phipps Cooper/Lealifano Foley
Magic Sponge
Guest
Foley will be 15 next year. He's too good to be left out.
Chan Wee
Guest
@ Jereme Lane : interesting statement "" because goalkicking is not a fullbacks job and we were talking about who is the better fullback…"" is there a law or regulation that specifies whose job it is??? the best person who would fit that proclamation IMO is "nobody" (John Eales) :D