Israel Folau has marked his return from an unusually long off-season break with a trademark try and an assist in the NSW Waratahs’ 47-5 win over the Melbourne Rebels.
Folau, who was rested from last year’s Wallabies spring tour, made the most of limited opportunities at suburban Brookvale in a game in which the Waratahs piled on seven tries and 47 unanswered points after the new-look Rebels scored first.
The classy fullback hadn’t played since October but imposed himself on the game with a couple of telling plays in the third of four quarters.
Folau soared high to take a kick from five-eighth Bernard Foley in a perfectly executed example of a move that delivered tries last year for the Wallabies and Waratahs.
After former Western Force prop Shambeckler Vui smashed his way over a few minutes later, Folau set up Lalakai Foketi for the Tahs’ fourth try.
A penalty try and five-pointers to Bryce Hegarty and Alex Newsome rounded off the scoring.
“Folau was getting back to some good form there and I thought we were smart at times,” Waratahs’ coach Daryl Gibson said.
“I thought the first half we were really rusty.
“We had opportunities, we didn’t really take through poor execution, at times the ball looked like it was a cake of soap and both teams couldn’t really hold on to it.
“The game broke up a little in the second half and we got some better ruck speed and some go forward.”
Captain and openside flanker Michael Hooper also had a busy game for the Tahs, dashing 60 metres for an intercept try in the second quarter after Rebels hooker Jordan Uelese gave the visitors the lead from a forward drive.
Hooker Damien Fitzpatrick and Wallabies lock and Waratahs recruit Rob Simmons came off the ground in the first half.
Simmons, whose wife gave birth to a boy early on Thursday morning copped a head gash, while Fitzpatrick has a suspected posterior cruciate ligament knee injury.
Gibson said halfback Nick Phipps was still two to three weeks away from recovering from his calf injury.
Rebels back Dom Shipperley jarred a knee.
Melbourne coach Dave Wessels pointed out the Rebels still had some major players to come back including Will Genia, Bill Meeks Ben Daley and Geoff Parling, though Marika Koroibete may miss their first Super Rugby game.
Wessels wasn’t bothered by the scoreline or having given up 87 points across their two trials
“I thought we were the better team for 40, 50 minutes of that game,” he said.
“We put together a team in five weeks, we came here and did some really simple things with massive intensity.
“We didn’t have a lot of the ball in that (first) half and we defended and we should have been leading at halftime had it not been for a jammy try that Michael Hooper scored.”
Tobias
Guest
I reckon the kiwi provinces will be thrilled after viewing the footage
Only a matter of time
Guest
...until the Tahs come undone after the immense pressure and hype put on them by everyone. They will surely crumble. Rebels missing several players but will still shake up the Aussie conference. Folau will once again be found out with clever kicking, fall into a tryless streak and lose interest. Hanigan and Simmons are both useless in contact resembling prawns. Will be consumed by any defence. Foley will shoulder too much, Beale will back chat every decision made against him. The only player I want to do really well is Jake Gordon as we desperately need a Scrumhalf in gold that isn't Phipps and Genia!!! Tahs to go another year not making the finals yet then feel hard done by.
Lazy indeed
Guest
Lazy is spot on. No sense of pursuit in defence when easily beaten. No desire to take the line on and very submissive in attack when tackled. Not a fan. I think we'll see Hodge stepping in. Waratahs already overhyped once again in the presseason. I hope they get demolished!
Tez
Guest
I am a Tahs fan living in Perth. I have seen Newsome a few times and like the look of him. Am happy the Tahs picked him up. If injuries to other wingers had occurred in 2017 Newsome would have performed ok as a Wallaby winger. I expect him to have a good 2018 .
Tez
Guest
Agree 100% ..... I reckon Debrezini is lazy, a defensive turnstile and not up to Super Rugby standard .... I would have kept Lance and let Jack stay in Japan
KFar
Guest
Not as good as the defensive bomb haha
Cynical Play
Guest
Thought it was Marto.... M.A.R.T.O stop it.
Machooka
Roar Guru
MARTO... how many handles do you currently run!?!
ChipandChagger
Roar Rookie
RURU 4 BOX-KICKS IN A ROW..!!! 0 GAIN. Who said the Box-kick is dead in Australia??? (I hate them)
ChipandChagger
Roar Rookie
Have never rated Jack Deb - he is good, just not great. And with the quality backline the Rebels now have they need a gun 5/8. Just not convinced he is it. Bit gutted they let Jono Lance go if he is the strategic 10. Can't see Maddocks or Hodge developing quick enough either to play 10 at the moment so guess we are stuck with him!
Tony
Guest
^ Nice one Hoops.Give yourself a wrap.
Tony
Guest
Cynical Play, Good Queensland bloke Mack, Top fella , he`ll go good if Foley stays out of his way.
MARTO
Guest
Don`t fret MAChocka. Ned will be first pick for Chucks Wallabies........
JP
Guest
This is horrendous news for Australian Rugby as now Michael Cheika will lock in 23 Waratahs for his Wallabies instead of the normal 15.
Fionn
Guest
Rebels were all strong runners with no distribution. Neither 10 nor 12 was getting the ball out wide consistently. Foley and especially Beale did that far better.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
The scoreline really flattered the Tahs Well it certainly didn't flatter the Rebels! The Tahs lost to the Rebels in 2014, so not sure how this could have been worse. The first half was rust on rust insofar as handling and set piece but things improved. Defence, and effort in Defence was markedly improved. Mack Mason chasing down the winger to prevent the try when it didn't really matter to the scoreboard, with the whole team racing back to the ruck, getting the ball and attacking. The Tahs of last year would've just let the try in and waited at halfway for the next kickoff. As pedestrian as the Rebels attack was, keeping them to just the rolling maul try is also a positive. One on one tackling looked to have improved. Also was the play against a rush defence. More chips over the back, smarter passing. I think the "heads up" rugby was better from the Tahs as the game went on.
Tobias
Guest
The scoreline really flattered the Tahs, I'm a loyal fan but both teams were woeful, the passing & catching were particularly poor. Whilst this just a trial match the signs don't look good, I have attended at least 1 pres-season trial for the Tahs since 2013 & this appeared to be the worst to my recollection, certainly a step down from last years 100 pointer against the Highlanders at Brooky, I hope I'm wrong but if last night was anything to go by we might be in for more of the same for the Tah's in 2018.
Redsfan1
Guest
Wow I guess all the hype about Wessels as a super coach hasn't yet materialised. Getting smashed pre-season is a worry no matter how much you want to Windows dress it. I can't for the life of me understand why people have been going on about Wessels being this great coach. He hasn't achieved anything.
Blacky
Guest
Hooper outstanding as usual, winning turnovers, aggressive tackling And huge running metres including a 60metre try. Concerns with the set piece, but that improved as the game went on.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
I arrived a bit late, missed the first few minutes. Score doesn't really reflect the game, it was relatively even while the main teams were on the field (14x5 until mid Q3), then blew out when the subs came in. By the end of Q3, only our 14 (Alex Newsome?) and the Rebels 9 (playing as a wing) were still on the field. Tahs extended squad was much better than Rebels extended squad, clearly, even before the send-offs. Main event definitely was scrappy, many handling errors. This was a major problem last year, hope it gets better by the SR games. Tahs defense seemed more solid than last year (another major problem), but not sure how sharp Rebels attack was to test it. Stand-out for me was also Rona at 13, liked him both in attack and defense. He's a good addition to the squad if he maintains the form, rounds off the back line. That high-kick for Folau to finish off was attempted by both Bernie and KB, though the try came from a KB one. One of the sub's try came from Mason doing a similar kick to I think Bryce, pretty neat. Latu still looks unfit. I like him a lot, hope he can ratchet up a gear to get back to the form he was showing early last year. I saw most of the Rams NRC home games, Mason was on fire in a couple, weak in others. I think he has potential but is still far from SR starter level and also needs to gain consistency. Was OK yesterday. I'm on the pessimistic end of the spectrum, don't have high hopes for the Tahs for this season, just hoping it isn't as ugly as last year. Hope they prove me wrong. As for the Rebels, it's unfair to expect much of them this year - too much change, more a group playing together than a team. Hope they use this year to gel, have high expectations of them next year.