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Only one rugby coach on the planet would switch one of the world’s most exciting fullbacks in Israel Folau to the wing for a must win Super Rugby clash with the Melbourne Rebels.
Daryl Gibson.
His rationale? Folau will be safe under the high ball on the wing where the Rebels attack, and Bryce Hegarty has been playing so well off the bench he deserves more game time.
Really?
Hegarty is a very promising footballer, but even if he plays out of his skin, he’d be half as devastating in attack and defence as Folau in the 15 jersey.
And just to make the absurd decision even more absurd, the Waratahs have been forced to fly 30,000ks in two weeks from Sydney to Durban to Buenos Aires to Sydney to play the Stormers, Sharks, and Jaguares for a win, draw, and a loss.
If it hadn’t been for Bernard Foley’s golden boot landing 14 from 14, the Waratahs would have been beaten in all three games.
Hardly the time for any changes, let alone a drastic one at a time when Folau hasn’t yet signed for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, keeping his many options open.
(AAP Image/Paul Miller)
Folau will be vital to the Wallabies chances in Tokyo and he could be forgiven for thinking Gibson is off his rocker switching him to the wing where his attacking options will be cut in half.
There’s another negative with quality halfback Jake Gordon out with concussion, but on the credit side Wallaby lock Rob Simmons is back from injury, and Wallaby prop Sekope Kepu has served his suspension from the Scotland game on the last end of year tour.
Both will make a huge difference to the pack that was shunted all over the park in Buenos Aires.
And the Rebels won’t be the easy beats of past seven seasons where in 110 games they won only 31, and never two wins on the trot.
That unwanted record has been well and truly buried with the Rebels winning all three of their current campaign to stand alone on top of the Australian Conferencw with 15 points.
The Waratahs have six.
Tomorrow night at Allianz this new look Rebels, bolstered by Will Genia from the Reds, plus Adam Coleman, Dane Haylett-Petty and Tetera Faulkner from the Force – all Wallabies – will be more than a handful.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
They are a damn good side, coached by former Force mentor David Wessels – a South African.
Genia has been the real coup, the change of scenary has put extra spring in his 30-year-old legs.
Previously he was one of the best halfbacks in world rugby on his day.
The switch has been so effective, his days are now back to back to back and Genia has been responsible for the Rebels chalking up 17 tries in just three games.
The defensive pattern has been very effective as well, allowing just six tries.
So the days of finishing 15th, or 16th, on the Super table are gone.
Allianz tomorrow will have two vastly different results – the Rebels will be so far ahead in the Australian Conference, and the Waratahs stuffed, or the Waratahs will dramatically lift to stay in contention.
Selecting Israel Folau on the wing will make the latter possibility very very difficult.