Brumbies hatch new plan to stop Israel Folau after 2014 sledge fail

THEY sledged Israel Folau mercilessly in 2014 and paid the price for the next two years. Now the Brumbies will implement a new tactic to disrupt the superstar.

Waratahs v Reds

THE Brumbies have identified communication as the key to stopping Israel Folau in Canberra but based on recent history it would pay to talk about him — not aimed at him.

Sledging Folau must be on the Brumbies’ “never again” list after an attempt to mentally disintegrate the star NSW fullback in 2014 backfired badly and has haunted them since.

Folau revealed two years ago Brumbies players had sledged him in a late-season game and it clearly didn’t work — the Tahs ran away comfortable 39-8 winners.

Israel Folau carved up the Brumbies last year. Picture: Brett Costello

Since then, NSW have had the wood on the Brumbies; they won again in a Super Rugby semi-final a month later, and went on to win the title.

NSW then won both rounds last year — including a rare 13-10 win in Canberra. In four games the Tahs have scored 12 tries to four, with a collective scoreline of 106-39.

Like silent assassins Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar, Folau appeared to only get more dominant after being verballed. Last year, he scored a try and set up two more in Sydney and even in a defence-heavy war in Canberra, Folau ambled for his regular 100-plus metres in the Tahs’ win.

Ahead of the crucial conference clash, Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson is hopeful Folau will again unfurl a classic “Izzy game”.

“He has been the difference a lot of times in those close encounters,” Gibson said.

“It has been a bit of Folau brilliance that has separated the two teams.”

Israel Folau has terrorised the Brumbies since joining the Tahs. Picture: Brett Costello

Brumbies flanker Scott Fardy knows the brilliance well as a Wallabies teammate of Folau. The ACT flanker said the key to stopping him is to work as a unit.

“When a guy like Izzy gets the ball you have to make sure your bloke either side of is looking after you as well, because he can be outside you and away from you pretty quick,” Fardy said.

“You have to work together, communicate and solve problems as you go. That’s the key to defence against guys like him.”

Sledge-related motivation has no doubt faded out for Folau by now but Gibson said the drive of his fullback to bounce back to the top after an injury-dampened World Cup was noticeable — and good news for the team.

Folau ran for 95 metres last week, with several line breaks. It was the biggest tally — and first sighting of the old Folau — since he suffered a foot injury against England at the World Cup.

“Am I surprised at the way he’s come back? No,” Gibson said.

“He came back off the World Cup disappointed with his performance there, and as a very motivated athlete.

“He had three months to reflect on that and get himself right physically and you can see he is hungry, and that’s a good place for the Waratahs.”

Waratahs captain Michael Hooper said sometimes the game plan needed to be pretty simple: give the ball to Izzy.

“I see Izzy brilliance every week, I am always blown away by what he can put on the field each week,” Hooper said.

“He’s looking fit, and is looking as good as I have seen him.

Folau rolls out of a Pocock tackle in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith

“Some of his touches briefly were really special. I just want to give him the ball and get the ball in his hands, so he can work his magic.”

Gibson was quick to stress, however, that for all the praise heaped on the Brumbies’ attack last week, their defence against the Canes was superb as always and cracking it would be tough.

“That’s the real challenge,” Gibson said.

“Last year it went unnoticed that they conceded the least number of tries in the competition. One of the things the Brumbies have done very successfully is limit teams’ effectiveness. In terms of the challenge that poses, you are going to have to be very good, in terms of your attack and being very accurate at the breakdown.”

The Brumbies held the Hurricanes to 10 points last week but Fardy said: “We were pretty fithy they scored that try, off that kick.”

“I thought our defence was great on Friday but it will have to go up another level against NSW,” he said.

“They throw a lot of threats at you. A lot of big ball runners.”

Originally published as Brumbies hatch new plan to stop Israel Folau after 2014 sledge fail