Israel Folau has revealed the secret behind his spectacular try-scoring form as he hunts yet more five-pointers in the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship closer against the Pumas in Argentina.
The superstar code-hopper needs six more strikes in Australia’s last six Tests of 2017 to equal rugby’s world record for most tries in a calendar year.
But, surprisingly, he insists bagging tries is not in his game plan.
“To be honest, I go into a game not thinking about scoring tries and I think that’s the key,” Folau said after coach Michael Cheika named an unchanged starting side for the first time in his three years at the helm.
“Once you go into a game thinking about tries, you’re not thinking about your role as a player for the team.
“So I’m just really enjoying the ride and the journey at the moment and I’m looking forward to another opportunity at the weekend.”
With his 11th try of the year coming in last week’s 27-27 draw with South Africa in Bloemfontein, the fullback eclipsed his one-time Queensland State of Origin rugby league teammate Lote Tuqiri’s Australian record for most five-pointers in a single season.
“I’m sure I’ll speak to Lote at some stage when I get back home. He’s someone I definitely looked up to from a young age,” Folau said.
“I just feel honoured and privileged to get the opportunity to score tries.
“But I just give credit to the guys on the inside for providing those opportunities. I’m just lucky to be on the end of the play to be able to go over and score tries.”
Folau’s 11 tries in 2017 have come in only eight Tests – including an unprecedented hat-trick of braces against Fiji, Scotland and Italy.
With a strike rate of more than one try a Test, the 29-year-old is on pace to beat the current world record of 17 shared by Japanese flyer Daisuke Ohata (2002) and former New Zealand winger Joe Rokocoko (2003).
If he remains injury-free, Folau will get the chance to set a new benchmark on the upcoming spring tour of Japan and Europe following Sunday’s clash with the Pumas in Mendoza and the last Bledisloe Cup match of the year against New Zealand in Brisbane in a fortnight.
Cynical Play
Guest
He's incredibly hard to stop scoring from 10 out.
Kiwi in nz
Guest
Soft or hard trys. Good that oz is scoring trys and good Folou is scoring them. For so long he has been bagged, whether deserving or not there will be more of these types of articles if the trend continues. TBO I used to not like Folau so much early on with all the hype, and mostly with the big grinning picture they had of him on the articles on the roar. Same for Chieka. Some the the pictures are not flattering and make me think less of him, than I normally would from his coaching.
Bill
Guest
you are blind when it comes to Folau.
Bill
Guest
No he does not. In Super Rugby, Folau ranks 34th in line breaks.
PeterK
Roar Guru
its that empty wind from aucklland again
Taylorman
Guest
Humility rates quite highly with you doesnt it? Its almost a defensive mechanism?
PeterK
Roar Guru
he is always humble and a team player
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
It is good to see him acknowledge his inside backs.
PeterK
Roar Guru
not taking offence at all, just noting how graceful and humble you are, you are a credit to the rugby world you have a great attitude towards players around the world treating them with due respect
Bill
Guest
Pointing out truly great great tries from superb individual effort and atheleticism is hardly graceless mate. But, Having you take offence at a comparison between the individual effort between Ioane and Folau's tires is laughable.
Bill
Guest
Pointing out truly great great tries from superb individual effort and atheleticism is hardly graceless mate. But, Having you take offence at a comparison between the individual effort between Ioane and Folau's tires is laughable.
PeterK
Roar Guru
too bad he can't be as graceful and humble as the kiwis though as your post exemplifies
Loxie
Guest
Rubbish. He has one of the best tackle bust stats in the game.
Bill
Guest
Isn't it wonderful t see a winger like Rieko Ioane who can beat a man in the tackle that actually has to work to score. Folau's tries are soft by comparison, gifted by his team mates. At least he has the grace to acknowledge the try assists.
Taylorman
Guest
Yes focussing on the process is standard fare for any sport. The scoring of tries, the winning of the game are just products of the process or processes done well. You can certainly visualise the scoring of tries or winning but that is still just a part of that process, without which wont be realised. Folau knows the score on that one so the surprise mentioned in the article isnt one to me.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
Well these comments seem to indicate an answer to a question Nick Farr-Jones raised in his recent interview with The Roar. He was ruminating on how much emphasis the current coaching setup was placing on "process" as opposed to score or results. He said that he attributed a big improvement in consistency, in his time with the Wallabies, on Dwyer and co focusing on the process(es) each player needed to go through. What Folau is talking about here is really his focus on the process he needs in his job. I always wonder, when we hear these comments from players when they're interviewed, just how much of what they say is a regurgitation of what they've been hearing from the coaching team. I usually figure it's about 80%.
BrainsTrust
Guest
Folau has one of the best agents only behind SBW, The biggest joke was the headline after the people's choice team that Folau was left out. Well everyone apart from the journos seems to have realised that Folau is a defensive shirker.
Mike Julz
Guest
Maria Tutaia, that's the secret.?