Rugby World Cup: Wallabies must step out of Israel Folau’s shadow
ISRAEL Folau’s strike rate for Test tries is Lomu-like — and it will take a tournament of similarly epic proportions to power the Wallabies to the World Cup final.
ISRAEL Folau’s strike rate for Test tries is Lomu-like — and it will take a tournament of similarly epic proportions to power the Wallabies to the World Cup final.
Of all the mantras from 1991 World Cup-winning coach Bob Dwyer, the most lasting is that you need five players of World XV substance to triumph at the code’s showpiece.
OK, fingers ready. No. 1 ... Folau. His 18 tries in 33 Tests is just one behind the pace set by All Blacks icon Jonah Lomu at the same stage of his career.
Lomu simply brushed aside lucky defenders during his rampage through the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.
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Less fortunate ones, like England’s Mike Catt, became speed bumps as he trampled over them to reach the tryline seven times.
Folau is more gliding power than steamroller. But his impact from fullback must be as resonant because he instils so much confidence in teammates around him when he fires.
OK, Wallaby superstar No. 2 ... No. 2 please? That’s the issue.
A raft of the Wallabies top players must lift a level to World XV gearing if Australia are to dominate five big Tests in a row to grab the Webb Ellis Cup.
Flankers David Pocock and Michael Hooper, hooker and captain Stephen Moore, halfback spark Will Genia and centre Tevita Kuridrani are the obvious names who can step up in style.
What the Wallabies really need is a tight five titan to emerge.
Queensland lock Rob Simmons has played more than 50 Tests for a highlights reel of excellent lineout wins, the odd bullocking run, big man agility and bursts of aggression.
A complete 80 minutes piecing together those elements is what the Wallabies need from Simmons. It’s overdue.
Equally, the Wallabies won their World Cups in 1991 (Ewen McKenzie) and 1999 (Andrew Blades) with unsung tighthead props who kept the scrum sturdy, so fancy backs like David Campese and Tim Horan could win all the accolades.
The formula hasn’t changed. If Sekope Kepu and Greg Holmes fill that scrum role with unshifting, concrete boots, the Wallabies may be going places.
If they falter, the Wallabies will have more problems than the 2011 England side in the dwarf-tossing bar that started their unravelling.
The secret ingredient to the 1991 and 1999 Cup wins was being based in Ireland early with the perfect atmosphere for unity, fun and hard work.
Coach Michael Cheika’s masterstroke was replicating that with the training camp, team identity building and bonding in the US away from all the fanfare.
Cheika has flogged them too.
Minister of Defence Nathan Grey has hammered in a system and tackling clout that only seems to, worryingly, short circuit in the widest channel at times.
The Wallabies don’t have the best tight five or the fastest wingers at this World Cup but they do have a rebuilt belief and some Cheika mongrel to relish.
Rugby in Australia desperately needs a big World Cup from the Wallabies.
Playing England and Wales in the Pool of Death, rather than minnows, are just two more valuable windows to pump up the code.
If rugby’s World Cup had a major weakness early, it was the tournament seeming too much like a skirmish among very few in the first division and then the rest.
Those wanting to hand over the Webb Ellis Cup to the All Blacks already be warned.
Richie McCaw’s men are hot favourites but Australia, South Africa, home heroes England, Six Nations champions Ireland or an inspired French team could face them in a final.
The equalisation amongst the leading nations, Argentina’s breakout run to third in 2007 and home comfort for the English and their near-neighbours means few predictable results in the seven finals games.
FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
ISRAEL FOLAU (AUSTRALIA)
The one Wallaby with consistent World XV lustre over the past three seasons. It is not only his 18 tries in 33 Tests but also the doubt he throws into every opposition kicker’s mind. “Kick it Izzy’s way and he’ll torch us,” is the trepidation. Folau is a great trigger for counterattacks from fullback but also a great decoy to suck in defenders so other backs have more space to operate.
NEHE MILNER-SKUDDER (NEW ZEALAND)
He’s the steppy little dude not “The Bus” (Julian Savea) on the other wing for the All Blacks. His quick feet, off-loads and nose for the tryline are big assets which mean he plays far bigger than his 1.80m stature. He could be scoring tries four-at-a-time against Namibia, Georgia or Tonga.
LOUIS PICAMOLES (FRANCE)
The 116kg No. 8 is a steamrolling, bumping hardman in the pack for Les Bleus. If the French are going anywhere in the tournament, their forwards will have to do some monstering. He blows up at referees, which is a good sign. He’s the sort of forward who will take on the All Blacks with relish.
JESSE KRIEL (SOUTH AFRICA)
Lovely runner at outside centre with pace and directness who could emerge as the best young gun at the tournament. He is 21 and scored a sharp try against the All Blacks in only his second Test in July. Great foil for old head centre partner Jean de Villiers.
JONATHAN JOSEPH (ENGLAND)
This is not a bullocking Manu Tuilagi-type in the centres for the hosts but a nimble, stepping talent who could light up Twickenham. England are desperate for a home hero and he could be a star if England play some rugby rather than a boring, no-risk game.
5 REASONS THE WALLABIES CAN WIN IT
ATTACK: The Wallabies know they must have a crack to beat more risk-averse sides. Shrewd backs coach Steve Larkham has reintroduced clever set plays in the backs. Bernard Foley and Quade Cooper are two top No.10s.
MICHAEL CHEIKA: The Wallabies coach is a Test novice but has already built the team in his image as an abrasive, no-fear, have-a-crack outfit which won’t take a backward step.
NO ALL BLACKS FEAR: Finally beating the Kiwis in Sydney in August was huge for the team’s psyche. The All Blacks have been a lap ahead of the Wallabies for years but the Aussies are not scared of them like the Irish or Welsh.
SUPER SUBS: A high-impact bench means Michael Hooper, Quade Cooper, Dean Mumm, Kurtley Beale or Will Genia can change a game.
BIG-TIME EXPERIENCE: Bringing Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell and Dean Mumm back from Europe has really built up the rugby intellect of the team. Cheika has backed experience.
... AND THREE REASONS THE WALLABIES MAY GET WALLOPED
DUD GOALKICKING: Bernard Foley, Quade Cooper and Giteau are operating at just 69 per cent in Tests this season – way below the mark to win a tight, wet-night shootout in a knockout game.
SCRUM DRAMAS: The English have spent months working on ways to buckle the Wallabies scrum. The Aussies have improved but their Argentinian scrum coach has only been on deck for four months. A terminal worry if Sekope Kepu or Greg Holmes is injured.
INCONSISTENCY: The Wallabies have a bad game in them. They just don’t win five big Tests in a row, which is what it would take to win the World Cup by beating England and Wales to finish pool play, and three big teams in knockout finals.
Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Wallabies must step out of Israel Folau’s shadow