Israel Folau will be playing his 66th international tomorrow night at ANZ Stadium, but how many more are in store in the gold jersey?
There has been a concerted push of late to point out his rugby “failings”, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Sure the 29-year-old isn’t the traditional rugby fullback, but who gives a rats, he’s the go-to man for the Wallabies with his outstanding ability and agility. He is able to turn a game in a nano-second.
There’s been talk of Folau switching to the Queensland Reds where coach Brad Thorn would welcome him with open arms.
But there’s a bigger chance for the Broncos, where Folau starred in 2008 and 2009 by scoring 37 tries in 39 games.
Be it Wayne Bennett or Anthony Seibold coaching the Broncos next year, signing Folau would be a huge coup.
But losing Folau to rugby league would be a tragedy for both the Waratahs and the Wallabies, especially the latter for next years Rugby World Cup.
Why so many in social media are so blinkered against such a superb talent defies description, and why should Folau have to put up with not being appreciated?
He knows where the try-line is with 44 from 73 games for the Waratahs, and 32 from 65 for the Wallabies. In total, 76 tries from 138 games amounts to value in any currency.
He has an even better strike rate in rugby league with two less defenders crossing for 36 from 52 with the Storm. Those 37 from 39 with the Broncos, five from five with Queensland Origin, and six from eight with the Kangaroos – making an overall 84 from 104.
Tomorrow night, if the Wallaby pack can win enough good clean ball, the quality quartet of Folau, Kurtley Beale, Will Genia, and Bernard Foley can beat the All Blacks.
Israel Folau is crucial for Australia (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
But the ‘if’ is a mighty big ‘if’.
The All Black back five up front of Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Liam Squire, Sam Cane, and skipper Kieran Read’s 348 caps to the Wallabies’ back five of Izack Rodda, Adam Coleman, Lakhan Tui, captain Michael Hooper, and David Pocock with 188.
But Hooper and Pocock own 161 between them, an enormous advantage to the men-in-black.
On the weight front there’s little in it with a total All Black pack tipping the scales at 576 kgs, to the Wallabies 570.
Hopefully there will be a sea of gold in the ANZ stands tomorrow night to support their side where I’ll back Israel Folau to be the key to the result to zip the knockers.
And even more hopefully to stay in rugby.
Marlin
Guest
Undeniably he has immense talent but he hasn’t improved and is too arrogant to hear criticism / imho the most overrated player I have ever seen - go back to league old son and maybe the money saved can be spent developing talent fro the juniors - but really who cares? I was a rusted on rugby bloke - local club rugby and Shute shield are the preferred option for this one who has, after watching the Wallabies get whipped by the AB’s again has had enough of the overinflated egos and pretty pedestrian performances - good bye I won’t be back
double agent
Guest
He can be an amazing runner of the football. One of the best we've had. And the best leaper for a high ball I've seen.
BrainsTrust
Guest
The Broncos concedeed a huge amount of points when Folau played for them. When Folau played for the Storm they conceeded under 300 for the season and then 50 more when he left. When Folau played for the Broncos they conceeded about 550, about 100 points worse than before. The Waratahs and Wallabies concede points at an even greater rate. Cooper Cronk goes to the Roosters and they are 100 points better defensively.
StuM
Guest
And how's his last line defence stats look PeterK? Any mention of how poor those are? Unlike, say, Banks as a fullback, who chases for all he's worth, catches the guy, and smashes him into touch, saving a guaranteed runaway try. But Banks won't get attributed a 5-pointer, or in fact anything for that, right?
Fionn
Guest
Fair call about the All Blacks, Wal, but it looks to me like his try scoring rate plummeted in Super Rugby 2017. I know he had a bad season in 2016 but the All Blacks didn't have an alternative like Reiko then.
Jacko
Guest
Thats an interesting few stats there Wal....It shows how people think something then they say it often enough it becomes their reality...Not many players score more than 8 from 13 and are dropped because they arnt scoring trys.....he got slow maybe but this bloke called Reiko came along...
Don
Roar Rookie
Israel Folau isn’t a chance of joining the Brisbane Broncos. He is not a League fullback and they would need to offload Jack Bird if they were to make a play for Folau as a centre. The Reds could be an option but at what coin? They are paying QC next year for not coming to work... And Folau doesn’t attract the broad sponsor appeal he once did since his Twitter comments in recent months. Personally, as a Rugby fan I’d like to see Folau go to League somewhere so we could put a bloke who can kick at fullback for the Wallabies.
PeterK
Roar Guru
just in super rugby this year which was a weaker year for him Folau - 14 games, 17 LB's , 17 line break assists, 49 tackle busts, 116 passes, 32 offloads B Smith - 15 games, 6 LB's, 8 line break assists, 49 tackle busts, 132 passes, 18 offloads T Banks - 16 games, 11 LB's, 10 line break assists, 38 tackle busts, 78 passes, 16 offloads DHP - 10 games, 5 LB's, 7 line break assists, 20 tackle busts, 48 passes, 6 offloads Seems Folau statistics belie your confirmation bias and perceptions. He certainly passes a lot for someone who can't pass and has a high number of line break assists, makes a lot of line breaks.
Brian
Guest
I’m talking about for the Waratahs. You state he has scored 44 from 73 games which is exactly what it says on Wikipedia. I’m fact, he has scored somewhere around 53-55 (I’ve read different numbers). You even wrote an article in May this year noting that he scored his 50th try. ‘Israel Folau will become Super Rugby’s greatest try scorer’.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
PK, let us not get carried away. He has played 66 tests - and you say "recently he has kicked very well". WTF, he should not just becoming good now. His passing is not ideal. As for line breaks, I do not see Folau actually setting himself up for the break or his going straight through a line. I see others setting him up for that. Jumping, carded against the Irish on 1 jump and could have been to a red if the other two instances were picked up. He needs to adjust or change his style. The Irish foiled his jumping and quite frankly if he has any Rugby Nous he would have adjusted and/or the team would have changed tactics as his jumping was not working. Maybe I am watching the wrong games to you. He is gifted, but is he now the best FB in Australia? If Banks is good enough, put him in there.
David Lord
Expert
No, I use espn rugby which is the code's bible on stats, and Israel Folau has scored 32 tries from 65 internationals for the Wallabies, so stick it Brian, do your own homework.
Mike
Guest
My concern rests with the volume of penalties we have become known for.
piru
Roar Rookie
His "failings" are highlighted by the insistence he play 15. Were he a winger I doubt anyone would have much to say
PeterK
Roar Guru
If the ball is not kicked to him and it is not passed to him by his team mates yes he has trouble injecting himself. Often he is available to be passed to but is now often used as a decoy runner. He is very heavily marked so that creates more space elsewhere. The wallaby attack struggled against the rush defence of the irish, look at how few opportunities they created, constantly pushed backwards , and players swaeting on the wallaby main threat in Folau. That is a major issue why it seems that Folau was minimised in a match (he was never completley taken out). B Smith has the luxury that virtually every AB back is a major attack threat so you can't heavily mark one player, also they make many breaks so players get well rewarded for support play.
Wal
Roar Guru
His ability to adapt does have to come into question though. The Crusaders and Ireland both showed a well-executed plan can completely take him out of a match. Something BB experienced last year with the rush defences and will be interesting to see if he also can adapt.
Wal
Roar Guru
He scored 7 tries from 11 tests in 2016 and 1 from 2 in 2017 so he hardly stopped scoring tries. He did become less effectual throughout matches though. And this year lost a heap of pace (and weight) so I suspect Hasen etc started to see things at training as much on the paddock.
Phil
Guest
Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story,PeterK!For once I find myself actually agreeing with DL.If we win tomorrow night,you can bet that Folau has had something to do with it.Of course,if we lose,he will probably cop a lot of the blame,along with any other Waratah!
PeterK
Roar Guru
factually this is incorrect. Folau has made many many line breaks. Recently he has kicked quite well for both the wallabies and waratahs. He can pass both sides but only has a long pass to one side. There is nothing wrong with his jumping style, he just has to not grab the player if he misses the ball, but he is allowed to careen into him and to contest the ball.
Fionn
Guest
Savea put on his weight in 2015 from memories. He was actually maintained in 2015 despite this, to great calls of irritation from some of the Kiwi media. He was dropped in 2016 after he stopped scoring tries and performing in 2015.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Fionn, I disagree. Julian Savea got dropped by the ABs because he was overweight and was not putting in the hard yards required to ensure he stayed in the ABs. This is what stopped his try scoring. So he was dropped. So the try scoring had nothing to do with it.