Rugby World Cup: Wallabies star Israel Folau to draw on NRL, AFL experience for Twickenham clash

THE last time the Wallabies faced a World Cup clash of such significance, Israel Folau was skinny, bouncing Sherrins and avoiding carbs like the plague.

CARDIFF, WALES - SEPTEMBER 23: Israel Folau of Australia makes a break during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Australia and Fiji at the Millennium Stadium on September 23, 2015 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

THE last time the Wallabies faced a World Cup clash of such significance, Israel Folau was skinny, bouncing Sherrins and avoiding carbs like the plague.

The year was 2011 and as the Wallabies were battling away at the World Cup in New Zealand, Folau was one year into an experiment to turn the former league star into an AFL player.

“I was having a break at this stage four years ago. The (GWS Giants) season was done for us,” Folau recalled.

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Israel Folau during his time with Greater Western Sydney Giants.

“It is a bit of a change around, to be here four years later. To think that I am in this situation now, it’s very exciting for myself.”

In London this week ahead of the Wallabies’ huge pool match against England at Twickenham, Folau is a world away from those days, not just geographically, but physically and mentally as well.

Folau spent most of 2011 having his body re-engineered from a bulky league back into an athletic AFL forward. He stripped nine kilograms off his 104kg frame, and cut body fat from 7 to 4 per cent.

“I got down to 95 kilos, I was pretty light for my height,” Folau said.

“I had to cut that food to lose the weight. Lot of carbs, bread, rice and all that stuff, which I like.

“After a while I had a routine where I knew what I had to do. Once my body adapted to that weight for a while, it was easy to stay there.”

In news that will not come as a shock, it turned out to be much easier to put the weight back on when Folau pulled the pin and joined rugby around a year later.

Fast forward three years and Folau is set to play the biggest game of his rugby career at a sold-out Twickenham on Sunday morning (AEST), when the Wallabies face an England team battling for survival.

On the same weekend the grand finals of his previous two codes will draw ratings of about less than 10 million people, Folau and the Wallabies will be watched by over 12 million in Britain alone.

Fittingly, perhaps, the Wallabies fullback will draw on his past in both codes when he runs onto Twickenham in front of 82,000: mental strength from league, and — don’t laugh — kicking skills from AFL.

Folau is not known as a kicker and that, in top end rugby, is both an asset and a potential liability.

Israel Folau shows off his aerial ability. Picture: Michael Ross.

The 26-year-old is regarded as one of the best rugby players in the world for his desire to run the ball from fullback, and the fact is he’s damn good at it.

But in tight Tests against England where field position is often crucial, and one isolated run can be turned over at great cost, Folau knows there is a place for him to use the boot as well.

“It is important to make good decisions at certain times,” Folau said.

“You have to go out there and play with brains, obviously you can’t run everything. You just have to make the right decision at the right time. That is certainly our focus.”

Indeed, given his famous leap, Folau could even learn to use a hoisted bomb and regather as a weapon just as Wales’ Dan Biggar did a week earlier.

“You just have to go with your gut feel really, you have to go with what you feel is right,” Folau said. “If you need to kick, then kick. What you don’t want to do is be indecisive. You can’t be in between at this level.”

Where other Wallabies have been growing edgy before the huge game, Folau remains a picture of calm.

He insists he will treat the England clash as he will any other game, despite being aware fans in Australia are looking to him to lead the Wallabies to victory. A loss and Australia face the prospect of not even qualifying for the finals.

“I learned it (composure) over the years,” he said. “Going through my experiences it didn’t work for me to carry that weight or expectation of anyone else.

“That is something you learn over the years. I just have to deal what is comfortable for myself.

“I was just trying to carry too many people’s expectations where you don’t need to. That’s what it comes down to, you are the only person that goes out there on the field.”

Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Wallabies star Israel Folau to draw on NRL, AFL experience for Twickenham clash