Israel Folau is renowned for his aerial brilliance, his ability to score and set up tries and the way he can so effortlessly turn defence into attack.
Last night at Suncorp he treated the 14,452 crowd to all of that and more, in a man of the match 52-41 defeat of the Reds, setting up a record points-scoring clash between two Australian franchises.
Folau scored two of the 15 tries, the first from a Bernard Foley kick-pass where the Waratah fullback took to the air to gather in-goal, the second turning a dangerous Reds chip kick into a 40-metre try of his own.
The only downside for the Waratahs was blowing a priceless bonus point from leading 40-19 with 30 minutes to go.
The Reds scored 22 points to 12 in that period by turning up the heat, while the Waratahs trod water.
So Super Rugby goes into the June international window break with the Waratahs leading the Australian Conference with 35 points to the Rebels’ 34 after the Melbourne-based franchise beat the Blues 20-10 at Eden Park, the first win by an Australian side over a New Zealand opponent on Kiwi soil in three years.
Suncorp produced the best of 80 minutes of running rugby that would have left Mark Ella and David Campese, two of the very best, salivating at the spectacle.
The Waratahs can thank Nick Phipps for turning in by far his best performance of the season.
Not once did he chirp the referee Angus Gardner, only once did he wave his arms around like a traffic cop on duty while the ball was at his feet.
He justified Wallaby squad selection by swiftly and accurately clearing set and loose play to allow Foley and Kurtley Beale to strut their stuff, often doubling around to set brilliant backline forays.
Wallaby coach Michael Cheika was in the stand watching 15 of his squad to meet Ireland over the next three Saturdays play the way Cheika has always tried to project.
One of the new boys on the Wallaby block, Taniela Topou, was a standout.
The Reds prop has an almost square frame of 175 cms tall and tipping the scales at 136 kgs, with his immense power netting him a five-pointer from close range.
He’ll make his international debut against the Six-Nations grand slam champions, and will be around for some time.
Two who missed Wallaby selection stood out last night – the Waratahs wingers Taqele Naiyaravoro and Cameron Clark.
How Naiyaravoro missed out defies description as the most dangerous winger in the country.
He’s heading overseas shortly and that’s been given as the reason for missing out.
Not in my book. I’ve always been a strong believer in the only important Test is the next one, not any Tests in the future, just take the Tests one at a time.
On that basis, Naiyaravoro is one of the first picked every time.
(AAP Image/Craig Golding)
Clark has made the transition from top Sevens player to the 15-man game on the back of very strong attack and defence abilities. His time will come.
Next up the Irish, and the obvious bonus of the 9-10-12-15 Wallaby combination to beat the men in green.
Will Genia, Bernard Foley, Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau.
Genia has been injured and missed the last four weeks of Super Rugby, but he’ll be fit come next Saturday at Suncorp.
His understanding with those three playmakers is vital to success, as is Foley’s trusted boot.
Last night he landed six from seven attempts, most of them from wide out.
It’s important David Pocock survives today’s Brumby clash with the Sunwolves in Canberra.
The Michael Hooper-Pocock combo up front looms just as vital as the quality quartet out the back.
So buckle up Roarers, there are three weeks of champagne rugby to look forward to, and the perfect litmus test to see where the Wallabies stand in the world pecking order.
OneOut
Guest
Little dose of reality provided with 20/20 recall there. And I too would like to see Quade back and Thorne with boots on. Might have bridged the gap with some conversion points too. Mind you, no one mentioned that - the kicker must not have had the initials QC.
ThugbyFan
Guest
OMG Paulo, are you implying that Andrew Mehrtens is a sheep? :)
ThugbyFan
Guest
Fionn
Guest
Yeah, roaming around the field on attack is way too much to ask of an international winger... You cannot be for real? You literally have no point whatsoever.
One way street
Guest
"Defence was one of the factors why we won the world cup in 1991 and 1999." Wash your mouth out ,not one player would make any of those great Wallaby teams from this current mob.
concerned supporter
Guest
Steve F, Thank you for your detailed posting. 1 The SMH article from February, interesting to now re-read in June. I think that the SMH journalists got most things right 2 Don't know where you are from Steve, I suspect Queensland, but Queensland has its fair share of representation on the ARU/RA Board and even the listing given by the SMH. 3 Don't know Dr Brett Robinson, maybe you do, but I would imagine that the CEO of the Bank of Queensland would need to be domiciled in Q. 4 What you say about Raelene Castle and her Canterbury Bulldogs salary cap is a worry for Rugby. To me, I think she is a puppet of C.Clyne. 5 Roger Davis & Andrew Hore????? Stuck up, elitists.
John
Guest
Why stop there? He obviously needs to be packing the scrum, throwing line outs to himself and coaching the side as well.
Steve F
Roar Rookie
Concerned Must admit seems like you have turned 180 deg on your criticism of the use of the term "Sydneycentricity" to describe the concentration of power within Australian Rugby. Please note , I very intentionally distinguish between "Australian Rugby" ( being the general nature of rugby in Oz) and RA, being that administrative group previous known as the ARU Firstly, I stand by my assertion that Brett Robinson, as a past captain of the Brumbies is the token ACT /Brumbies representative on the RA Board. Regardless of whether he has been a CEO of Bank of Queensland or a President of a UQ College. Brett's rugby pedigree says it all, he is a Brumby (at heart). Secondly, with respect to "Sydneycentricity", please refer to the SMH article that follows ( written in NSW for the local market !!) that paints the picture. And yes I would agree with you and include those from the ‘Friends of Sydney University Football Club”, as being amongst the power brokers behind RA and rugby in Oz. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/the-cauliflower-australian-rugby-2018-power-rankings-20180222-h0wgs5.html It was your good self who raised the Board composition as an issue ? I just mentioned "Sydneycentricity". However, I totally agree with your comparison between Board members at HIH, Enron and Babcock and Brown, and those at RA. Alan Jones has raised a number of valid issues re that Board and I would agree with him. Australian Rugby has a lot to loose, if the RA Board of Directors don't have their act together. I can only hope they did their due diligence on their CEO appointment? After listening to ABC Grandstand on Saturday about the fallout at the Canterbury-Bulldogs , I somehow doubt it? And yes an apology, the NSWRU/Tahs profit I was referring to was for the 2016 financial year ( the details of which were released in April 2017.) Check out: https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2017/04/27/10/05/nsw-financial-results Still not a great amount but better than the other franchises. And as for their loss in 2017, how does it compare to the losses of the other franchises? PS Roger Davis of Tahs CEO fame is also the Chairman of the Bank of Queensland Board while Brett Robinson is the CEO of a medically-related(?), BOQ Speciality Banking unit. A definite "boys club"
Fionn
Guest
You think roaming around is a bit too hard for him? Surely someone you think is the best player in the world should be able to handle roaming around the field?
KCOL
Guest
As of last Saturday Phipps has learnt to pass accurately. It happens. Phipps wanna be a Wallaby.
Joseph
Guest
What did Drongo say, exactly?
Joseph
Guest
Little man? How tall are you?
J
Guest
And, you have a job Morsie? Congratulations!
Joseph
Guest
MH01.. do you need a hanky?
Joseph
Guest
Sure.. why not.
riddler
Roar Rookie
i literally do not get any of that? i am an old thickie... but literally no idea what that means..
BrainsTrust
Guest
The hardest way to tackle someone is if your moving at speed in the opposite direction to them. So I am not talking about the position but the momentum. How is it possible to read the bounce of a rugby ball off a kick. if the opposition was like Queensland and didn't have cover then its worth a gamble ., Normally they would so then you let the opposition have a 50-50 chance of scoring a try, Without getting the same inreyurmm
RobC
Roar Guru
Dave. I believe it goes something like this: B = THINGS BT LOVES B = { HAMISH, TOUGH RUGBY, NO DH, CHEWING METAL, NOT(QC), ETC } A = BT LOVE A = { BT, B, NOT(QC) }
RobC
Roar Guru
Hahaha. Good point tman. So we'll see about the Reds I guess :)
RobC
Roar Guru
I loved the match as a spectator! Enjoyed it a tonne Looking at it deeper... then it's less fun!