Code-hopping Wallabies star Israel Folau says Rugby World Cup will be the pinnacle for him

HE has played on the biggest stages in three footy codes. But Israel Folau says the 2015 Rugby World Cup will top them all.

Wallabies player Israel Folau at a DHL Function at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, ahead of the Wallabies World Cup Squad announcement on friday. pic Mark Evans

HE has won State of Origin titles, a Super Rugby crown and an NRL Grand Final, played in a league World Cup, Bledisloe Cups, a British and Irish Lions series and even kicked a Sherrin on the MCG.

But Israel Folau says the 2015 Rugby World Cup will top them all.

“I think this is definitely the pinnacle, for sure,” Folau says.

Folau will be the first name read on Friday in the final, 31-man Wallabies’ World Cup squad, which begins next month in the UK.

We will be live streaming the World Cup squad announcement on Friday from 11am

While the triple-code athlete has ticked most boxes on a domestic footy front, and even toured the world a few times in his three years in rugby, Folau admits the scale of the Rugby World Cup is even sending tingles down his spine.

Israel Folau in action for the Waratahs.

Tournament organisers claim the 20-team, 44-day showdown is the world’s third biggest sporting event, behind the Olympics and FIFA World Cup.

“Now it is getting closer I am realising how big the event is, for sure,” Folau said at a DHL World Cup event in Sydney.

“Not that I am feeling any pressure or anything but you want to make the most of the opportunity, it only comes around once every four years.

“Some guys don’t even get to play in a World Cup so I just pretty grateful for the position I am in.

“We want to go over there and do well ... and that is entirely up to us.”

The Wallabies meet Fiji in their first pool match on September 23 in Cardiff, before taking on Uruguay in Birmingham four days later.

But the decisive final two pool matches for Australia against Wales and England — and every finals match — will then be held at the imposing 80,000-seat home of English rugby: Twickenham.

With his impressive CV again providing context, Folau said the atmosphere of the London venue was peerless.

“I have played at Twickenham twice now and experienced the atmosphere there, and it is something you don’t get anywhere else. You can imagine all the games that will be played there will have an electrifying atmosphere,” he said.

“I don’t know what to expect. I have obviously never played in a Rugby World Cup before. I am just going to try and soak in everything I can and take it one week at a time, but keep in mind why we are there.”

The Wallabies World Cup squad naming in 2011 was drama-packed, with Matt Giteau left out, James O’Connor missing the announcement and Rocky Elsom surprisingly dumped as skipper for James Horwill.

Israel Folau on the way to the tryline for the Kangaroos.

The unveiling of Cheika’s squad is expected to contain far less fireworks. The focus will be on the big names to miss out as the coach whittles down to the lean 31-man maximum.

Cheika appears to have decided to rolled the dice and elected to take only two specialist halfbacks, using Matt Giteau as cover for the third spot. This will mean one of Will Genia, Nic White or Nick Phipps will miss the cut.

Both Genia and White are joining French clubs when free of World Cup duties, so one or the other could be immediately released to their new outfits to be near England in case of injury.

Speaking on Thursday morning, Folau said “nervous” players had no more idea about selections than the public.

“We don’t know what Michael is thinking but I am sure whoever he picks will do a great job,” Folau said.

“We are probably more like the fans, we just don’t know who is going to get picked. It will be great to see the squad.”

Originally published as Code-hopping Wallabies star Israel Folau says Rugby World Cup will be the pinnacle for him