Some might argue Israel Folau is the most important player in Australian rugby, and from some points of view at least they’d be right. Folau is indeed the ‘star’ player, and he is a marketing executive’s dream.
In terms of just the rugby though, even when he apparently isn’t playing well, he still tops as many stats as most players would hope to do on their best day.
Take the Highlanders match over a week ago, Folau carried for over 200 metres (according to my weekly Waratah member email). But the Waratahs lost and so all week I was reading about how over-rated he was.
People were clearly ignoring the fact that Folau was a constant threat and he set up two Waratah tries.
Although Folau’s performance on Sunday against the Brumbies was a good one, it was probably only slightly better than the week before, if at all. But of course because the Waratahs won on Sunday, Folau is now the messiah once more.
The thing is, individual player performances should also be attributed to the players around them. If Dan Carter, at the peak of his powers, played for the Reds this season, I doubt they’d be winning too many more matches. Does that make Dan Carter a no-show for higher honours? Of course not.
It is OK to think players from under-performing teams are great players.
Folau is the best I’ve ever seen play for the Waratahs, win or lose, and just about the best ever for the Wallabies, win or lose. He is the best no. 15 in world rugby and has been almost since he started playing in 2013.
Israel Dagg, Willie le Roux and Leigh Halfpenny are all good to great players, however none of them make the metres, the tackle busts, take the high ball as well, score the amount of tries, get the off loads away, or lay on the tries like Israel Folau (although Ben Smith comes close).
But Folau made a half-break against the Highlanders and while attempting an off-load Malakai Fekitoa ripped the ball from him and the Highlanders scored. Apparently that means Folau is rubbish, rather than merely human.
As for the Waratahs’ 15-point victory over the Brumbies, it was as I expected. Maybe this result means that the Waratahs will go on to win the 2015 championship. Maybe it doesn’t. All I know is that the Waratahs are collectively about a 20-point better side than the Brumbies, and they are about a 10-point better side than the likes of the Hurricanes, Crusaders, Sharks and Stormers.
Whether they can produce the goods week-in week-out, we are about to find out. I for one am looking forward to it.
Justthetip
Roar Pro
He's not a natural kicker or passer which makes him ordinary under any pressure. He's perfect as fullback in super rugby but you nailed it with his kicking being his downfall at test level. He will not relieve pressure by getting us good field possession or the best possible field possession. The wallabies can worry teams but to do it our forwards need the confidence that the guy at the back will make their life as easy as possible. For this reason our 10 should also make it as difficult as possible for them produce quality clearing kicks. We have guys who can do this and if their picked we will be much more dangerous than most think possible. In my opinion if we limit the stress on our forwards it will maximise their confidence and we may get better performances from them.
kibui b
Guest
I'm not insinuating that a F/B can or should cross cover ever time there is a line break. Look at the tape he didn't need to be that far out, and hence about a foot or so away from where he needed to be to make the tackle....
Die hard
Roar Rookie
I am really enjoying your enthusiasm Michael. If Matt Bourke was available and in his prime he would be fullback and Folau out on the wing.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Michael I have supported the all blacks all my life and will say that he would be in the squad as a winger. Maybe.......
Jerry
Guest
"when did it go down to three?" When they started selecting so many Kiwis.
BluesMan
Guest
HAHA
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I don't get up in the middle of the night to watch Australia lose to NH sides. Am I supposed to be impressed because Ireland no longer test your fullback under the high ball? That speaks volumes of the calibre of player you had at fullback previously. When Folau becomes a match winner at test level then you can all do a big song and dance, but for now he's Just Another Overrated Wallaby.
Ron
Guest
Mate, we get it - you love Ben Smith. He is infallible. He is GOD.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
It's not a low percentage play. The All Blacks used it to great effect in 2012 and other fullbacks utilize it effectively. It's only a low percentage play if it's poor executed. Folau chews up a lot of empty running metres on the counter attack, but his actually ability to make a play on the counter is wildly overrated.
Jerry
Guest
I'd say the majority of turnovers do come from lax ball security* - genuine poaches at the tackle would be few and far between (most jacklers are playing for a penalty rather than an actual turnover these days). *which doesn't mean stupid or poor, often it means the player is trying to hard to play positively.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Jerry - I know and agree. This was in response to rower who attributed turnovers to stupid offloads and poor ball security, showing there are other valid causes where it is not Folaus fault or only partially and more due to poor support play by others
taylorman
Roar Guru
"Joe remember an AB is worth 3 wallabies." Huh? Did I miss something...when did it go down to three?
Jerry
Guest
It's not limited to turnovers at the tackle Peter. Knock ons, intercepts etc are included in that category.
Jerry
Guest
NZ Herald Stats centre differs on a few of those. Clean breaks - 7 v 7 Offloads - 14 v 11 Missed tackles - 2/8 v 4/14. I don't agree that Smith is nowhere near as effective as at AB level. The only stat he suffers in at the Highlanders compared to the AB's is in tries scored.
Imma chargin ma lazor
Guest
Michael you are gushing! You must still be on a high after Folau's excellent game on Sunday. It's good to see Izzy finally finding some form. My recollection of the European tour was that Kuridrani was far more threatening in attack than Folau. TK was by far our best back.
Gavin Barker
Roar Pro
I love when people say "Fact" about things that can in no way be proven
Jerry
Guest
Ben Smith vs Folau statistically Running metres - 1265 (190 carries) v 1187 (185 carries) Tries - 5 to 12 Try Assists - 6 to 2 Clean Breaks - 14 to 25 Defenders beaten - 47 to 52 Defence & Discipline Tackles - 69 to 19 Missed Tackles - 15 to 5 Tackle % - 82.1 to 79.2 Turnovers - 19 to 22 Yellow Cards - 0 to 1 So, no I don't think Folau is statistically superior across the board.
Jerry
Guest
Try assists. Not tries. Israel Folau is a very good try scorer. He's not a very good passer.
somer
Guest
Not in a knockout WC game. Kicking, positional play, defence and minimal mistakes\turnovers will come to the fore like they always do. Folau is one of best athletics in world rugby but he's not the best rugby fullback.
flying hori
Guest
Folau is seriously overrated.