Bernard Foley enhances ‘Iceman’ reputation with composed field goal to see Wallabies home

Bernard Foley lived up to his ‘Iceman’ nickname against Wales, calmly slotting a late field goal to secure victory for the Wallabies.

Wales v Australia - International Match

WHEN Bernard Foley calmly slotted the last-gasp penalty to win the Waratahs their first-ever Super 15 title this year, Fox Sports commentator Nathan Sharp labelled him “Iceman”.

If it didn’t stick then, it sure has now, after the Wallaby five-eighth sunk Welsh hearts with a pressure field-goal to take the lead eight minutes out from full-time in Australia’s pulsating 33-28 win at Millennium Stadium.

After Wales had taken a one-point lead following a penalty-try for repeated scrum infringements, the roaring, singing, chanting home crowd of 55,004 thought their team’s nine-match losing streak against Australia was finally over.

Enter Iceman. With the Wallaby forwards setting up the perfect platform, replacement half-back Will Genia fired out a pass to Foley and he sent it through the posts just like he has at practise a thousand times.

Or, maybe once or twice anyway.

After the match a relieved Wallaby coach Michael Cheika revealed that drop goals are not in the team playbook, and never rehearsed at training.

Australia's Bernard Foley kicks a conversion against Wales.

Any work Foley does on his drop-kicks is solely on his own time, and with mixed results.

“I took a few after the Captain’s Run on Friday,” Foley said. “A couple went over and a couple ended up closer to the corner post.

“That was my first one at this level and I think I’ve only kicked one in Super rugby, so it’s not something I do often.”

Even so, Foley had no hesitation in calling the play.

“You’re always confident with it,” he said. “You’d like the game to be put to bed before that and not have to kick field goals but it was part and parcel of tonight and it was a great team effort to get us into that position and allow us to have a shot.

“There’s a lot of experience in the pack who knew where we had to be and in that situation it’s always good to have crack and not die wondering.”

With time ticking away, Foley got himself into position for the shot on two previous occasions, but the Welsh defenders cut off his time and space.

Australia's Bernard Foley lines up for a conversion kick against Wales.

He and his teammates stayed composed and when the time was right he gave Genia the call.

“Willie is a smart footballer. I think that’s what showed tonight,” he said. “ There was a lot of smarts about that game as well as a lot of hard work. The forwards toiled away tirelessly for the entire 80 minutes which set up a really good platform. I just dropped back and recognised the opportunity.

“I think Willie knew I was there and I was talking to him, I was calling ‘Willie, Willie’, and then I just said, ‘let’s do it now’. He got a good ball away and I was lucky to strike it well and see it go over.”

Will genia was instrumental in Bernard Foley’s winning drop goal against Wales.

Asked how he felt about being named after the Val Kilmer character who plays villain to Tom Cruise’s fighter pilot in the movie Top Gun, Foley showed as a film expert he makes a great rugby player.

“I think Iceman dies doesn’t he?” he said wrongly. “I think I’d rather be Maverick.”

After shooting down Wales, he can be called anything he wants.

Originally published as Bernard Foley enhances ‘Iceman’ reputation with composed field goal to see Wallabies home