Israel Folau’s stunning return to his scintillating best has left Australia’s tryscoring freak on track to break one of the most-prestigious records in international rugby.
With only pride on the line for the Wallabies after a winter of missed opportunities, Folau heads into Sunday’s Rugby Championship dead rubber with Argentina in sight of the world record for most Test tries in a calendar year.
After bagging his 11th Test try of 2017 in the Wallabies’ 27-27 draw last Saturday with South Africa, Folau eclipsed Lote Tuqiri’s Australian record set 13 years ago.
With a strike rate of more than a try a Test already this season, the superstar code-hopper needs six five-pointers in Australia’s last six internationals of the year to equal the tallies of Japanese flyer Daisuke Ohata (2002) and legendary All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko (2003).
It would be another incredible milestone for the former rugby league ace, already the only player to top the NRL and Super Rugby tryscoring charts in a season.
With doubles against Fiji, Scotland and Italy in 2017, Folau is also the first Australian to cross twice in three successive Tests.
With the Wallabies amassing 25 tries in their past five outings against the Pumas – including two for Folau last month in Canberra – fans can expect another free-flowing and high-scoring affair in Mendoza.
Especially with Wallabies being out of the title running after two frustrating draws with the Springboks and a last-minute loss to the All Blacks in Dunedin. The New Zealand defeat also cruelled Australia’s chance of winning back the Bledisloe Cup for the first time in 15 years.
The Pumas also have nothing to lose as they chase their first points of the competition after five successive heavy defeats.
“Both teams have been unlucky,” said Wallabies coach Stephen Larkham.
“But both teams have been trying to play with a lot of flair and (to) keep the ball in hand as much as possible and it’s going to amount to a very exciting game to watch.”
Folau’s vintage attacking form – after going 11 Tests without a five-pointer – has elevated the 28-year-old above Tuqiri and all-time greats Tim Horan, Joe Roff and Matt Giteau into outright fifth on Australia’s tryscorers’ list.
With 31 tries in 60 Tests, he trails only David Campese (64 from 101 Tests), Chris Latham (40 from 78), Adam Ashley-Cooper (37 from 116) and Drew Mitchell (34 from 71) since switching codes in 2013 from the AFL.
Victory over Argentina and an All Blacks win over South Africa in Cape Town would ensure the Wallabies finished runners-up in the Rugby Championship behind world champions New Zealand for the second straight year.
Campbell Watts
Guest
Scurb the argie game Highlander! 6 tries in the final 5 games? The next one being against the ABs? Tall order....
FunBus
Roar Rookie
I'd have him in my English team. Folau, Watson and Daly seems quite tasty to me.
kiwineil
Guest
my point is in a better team, with more skill to work off, and where lack of work ethic is not tolerated, I reckon he'd be a hell of a better player For now he doesn't make my starting AB or English team, and marginal for many others as he's too unbalanced Attack - suporb Defense - terrible Tactical awareness - limited Attitude - variable
Cuw
Guest
not forgetting being two yards quicker than Folau , so much so he went around him. i would say for a winger to get beaten and run around his outside lane is like for a real quick bowler to get hooked for a six over squareleg :)
Cuw
Guest
He scored trys against anyone put in front. too bad the top ranked teams were not keen on playing Japan those days ( 1996 - 2006) he played only 58 tests during a period of 11 years. and most countries excepting those in Asian Regional competition were ranked above Japan. in fact i cant remember exact years , but there was a time South Korea were the Asian champs and Japan were runners up. Grouping Mat Tries v Arabian Gulf 1 3 v Argentina 3 2 v Australia A 2 1 v Canada 6 3 v C Taipai 2 10 v England A 2 1 v Fiji 3 2 v France 1 1 v Georgia 1 3 v Hong Kong 5 9 v Ireland 3 2 v Italy 1 0 v Korea 11 19 v Romania 1 2 v Russia 3 2 v Samoa 2 1 v Scotland 1 0 v Spain 1 1 v Tonga 2 1 v USA 5 4 v Uruguay 1 1 v Wales 1 1
scottd
Guest
Stunning return to scintillating best? Do you think we might be overstating it a bit? He has improved and has had some good games but stunning & scintillating is perhaps a bit over excited.
Fox
Roar Guru
Ioane has better stats than Folau in the RC and especially since he has played one less game in fact- quite a bit better considering one less game in the RC so I don't think Ioane will be fighting anyone for his wing position - and I mean anyone! Rugby Championship - best attackers Metres run with ball: Israel Folau (Aust): 543 Rieko Ioane (NZ): 500 Andries Coetzee (SA): 349 Defenders beaten: Ioane: 30 Damian McKenzie (NZ): 25 Folau: 20 Breaks: Ioane: 14 McKenzie: 12 Folau: 12 Both Ioane and Folau have scored 4 tries in RC McKenzie 3 but Ioane with one less game is currently the best attacking player in the RC.
Fox
Roar Guru
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
The set piece angled run was a corker. That said, I have seen Kerevi, Beale and Hooper run that exact play with the same result. There were 4 guys that made that try happen. Folau, an integral part, cashed the Cheque on behalf of Ginea, Foley and Beale.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
So, If he was a better player, he would make the team...... Sounds about right.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Careful, Nick's Analysis focus on his positive attributes, which I don't think are in dispute. Read Highlanders article about his woeful defense. "Run and hide" defensive pattern.It's the other 40 minutes of the game where you don't have the ball that I have a problem with. Sefa Niavalu is a much more balanced player. Luke Morahan also. For the future check out the recent footage of Clay Uen playing for the Spirit. Took down Nianavorro the entire game and backed it up last week showing off his bag of tricks including a fantastic kicking game. Pulled fresh from Perth local club rugby, I hope someone has room in their SR development squad for him next year.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Took me 15 minutes to figure out your comment. I was tearing my hair out...
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Dagg is just as good in the air, has great running lines through traffic. I would rate him a close second behind Folau. Dagg: 9 Points, Folau 10 Points But here is the kicker, literally and metaphorically. He has tactical backfield vision, an accurate long kick which he uses well and is a solid defender. Folau aint any of that, or if he is, he doesn't show it. Dagg 9 Points, Folau 3 Points: Total Score: Dagg 18: Folau 13 - Dagg wins by 5 and is a lot less likely to pick up a yellow card in a defensive tackle. I will continue to bang on about imbalanced players. Folau is in my cross hairs, pun on recent indiscretion intended. Ask yourself, who is picking up the slack for the missing skills and contribution that a player like Dagg offers that Folau doesn't: It was Beale and Hodge in the last game.
Paul D
Guest
12 of those were against the Rugby powerhouse that is Chinese Taipei in 2 games (8 in one). The rest against Korea and Russia.
Cuw
Guest
he is not the absolute best at all that , except defusing up-and-unders. no doubt he is the best at catching high balls. but then that skill is easily explained from his background. also it seems u are only talking about attacking skills. what about his pathetic defence ?? if i am a wing , the last thing i want is someone to run around me on the outside lane. not to mention being stepped around by a prop , LOL
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
If we are going to continue to misrepresent stats: "They have not won more than have failed to win" 3:5 It is all academic. Australia plays a lot of top tier sides, The All blacks more than most. so being in the middle of the top tier isn't such a bad record. NZ, England and Ireland are clearly better sides. And we are now in a tussle for the middle of the road with Scotland and South Africa, both good sides. Our 3 wins, all of them mediocre Performances, Italy, Fiji and Argentina are the indicators that the team has a lot more improving to do before they can be considered great again..
Cuw
Guest
maybe u can use this in future :P
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Apologies CUW, Forums don't come with a font for Sarcasm. I know Beale can and does play 15, I was implying that Folau can't and doesn't.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
I am afraid that I might assign a male appendage as the sponsors logo for a few players.
Fionn
Guest
Well Nick Bishop and plenty of other more qualified analysts than you or I think that he would be in a world 15 also. Reiko would run rings around him because he is faster, but using that logic Naivalu would run rings around Reiko and Barrett. Not really the point though, is it?