Australia reacts to Israel Folau’s $14 million announcement

Israel Folau’s decision to increase his compensation claim to a staggering new figure has not resonated well with the Australian public.

Axed Wallabies fullback Israel Folau has made headlines once again by demanding a revised compensation total of $14 million from Rugby Australia.

It was revealed on Tuesday morning Folau’s updated statement was lodged to the Federal Circuit Court.

The former Wallabies and Waratahs player was sacked by Rugby Australia after he posted anti-gay comments to his Instagram in April.

Unsurprisingly, Folau’s decision has not resonated well with the Australian public, many calling the 30-year-old “greedy” and “hypocritical”.

RELATED: Folau launches updated claim against Rugby Australia

Israel Folau was sacked by Rugby Australia earlier this year for homophobic comments on Instagram.

Journalist Peter FitzSimons argued that Folau’s chance of a promotion to Wallabies captain were slim when considering Michael Hooper’s reputation among his peers.

“And so it goes on. For what it’s worth, there was never a challenge to Michael Hooper’s captaincy that I was aware of. He had the coach, and the dressing room,” FitzSimons posted to Twitter.

Courier Mail sports reporter Jim Tucker lamented Folau’s “loss of reality”, heavily disagreeing with the former rugby star’s logic.

“Israel Folau’s loss of reality laid bare here … no such thing as gravy-train earnings 10 years in the future in sport. Only there if you earn them (and) that comes with respect for his code,” Tucker posted to Twitter.

If the Instagram post never happened. Wallaby captain candidates about 12 months ago.
1 Hooper
2 Pocock
3 Genia
4 Kerevi
5 Coleman
6 Rodda
7 Foley
8 Toomua
9 Kepu
10 Sio

At least before Folau is a serious contender. https://t.co/pQ0PO4kayN

— Reg Roberts (@RugbyReg) November 27, 2019

If Israel Folau is seeking compensation for missing out on a POSSIBLE captaincny and a POSSIBLE World Cup trophy, I am suing my parents for not allowing me to be an actress when I could have POSSIBLY been better than Julia Roberts and POSSIBLY won an Oscar. #DreamBig

— Charlotte Mortlock (@CMMortlock) November 27, 2019

Every new Folau development just further consolidates Rugby Australia's position further. The delusions just expand incrementally...

— Brett McKay (@BMcSport) November 27, 2019

If Israel Folau is seeking compensation for missing out on a POSSIBLE captaincny and a POSSIBLE World Cup trophy, I am suing my parents for not allowing me to be an actress when I could have POSSIBLY been better than Julia Roberts and POSSIBLY won an Oscar. #DreamBig

— Charlotte Mortlock (@CMMortlock) November 27, 2019

Folau copped plenty of criticism last week when he blamed abortion laws and marriage equality for the devastating bushfires in New South Wales.

“I’ve been looking around at the events that’s been happening in Australia, this past couple of weeks, with all the natural disasters, the bushfires and the droughts,” he says.

“The events that have happened here in Australia, in the last couple of years – God’s word says for a man and a woman to be together … they’ve come and changed this law,” he says.

“Abortion, it’s OK now to murder, kill infants, unborn children.”

“Look how rapid these bushfires these droughts, all these things have come in a short period of time. Do you think it’s a coincidence or not?

“God is speaking to you guys. Australia you need to repent and take these laws and turn it back to what is right.”

Folau’s controversial Instagram post that states “hell awaits” homosexuals is still active on his profile.

Israel Folau played 62 Test matches for Australia.

News.com.au ran a poll back in June on Folau’s fight against his rugby bosses and it drew an enormous response — and interesting results.

See how Australia voted — along with an analysis of the results from our sports editor Jai Bednall and political reporter Sam Clench.