Israel Folau knows the end is nigh

As the agonising wait for judgment day approaches, Israel Folau has sent a cryptic message.

Rugby union star Israel Folau has resigned himself to being exiled by the code

As the agonising wait for judgment day on his rugby career approaches, Israel Folau has sent a cryptic message suggesting he knows the end is nigh.

Having already rejected Rugby Australia’s offer of a peace deal to let him resume playing, describing the offer as being tempted by the devil, Folau is slowly but surely distancing himself from the sport.

While still refusing to remove the divisive social media posts proclaiming that “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolaters” were going to hell, he has tellingly changed his profile picture.

His Twitter and Instagram accounts had both previously featured a shot of him playing for the Waratahs, with his hand raised triumphantly in the air pointing to the sky, but that has now been replaced by an image of the number one and the words “God first”.

Folau hasn’t given any explanation as to why he edited his profile picture but it follows hot on the heels of his admission he expects to be sacked after refusing to remove the anti-gay posts after being told they were in breach of the Code of Conduct.

A decision on his punishment is expected soon after the three-person panel that heard his case found him guilty of a high-level offence.

Israel Folau's new Instagram profile picture.

If he is sacked, no one will feel his departure more than the Waratahs, who have lost three of the four games they have played since he was stood down.

NSW coach Daryl Gibson said it would also be a sad day for the sport: “I think he’s an incredible talent. I think that’s probably what’s been lost in this is the fact that potentially he’s going to be lost to the code.”

Opinions are split within the team about whether Folau deserves to be sacked for his postings, with many other players in the squad being practising Christians.

But the one thing they all agree on is that they can have their differences of opinion without ruining the team culture.

Several players have kept in close contact with Folau during the month-long saga and Gibson said they had been given the green light to meet up with him and support him if they want to.

“We’re still following it and it’s in progress,” Gibson said.

“It’s a difficult one. We’re no different to all the opinions in society. We’re a team and have very diverse opinions on where we sit on everything.

“[It is about] managing that dynamic and the opportunity is there for us to come together with a common purpose and that’s what we’ve done.

“Israel is still a teammate. We still care for him and that will continue. There is still a range of options on the table for him and we’ll learn his fate this week.”

The Waratahs accept that beating the Queensland Reds in Saturday night’s make-or-break Super Rugby derby is a non-negotiable.

The three successive defeats to South African opposition have sent the Waratahs spiralling to 13th on the ladder and fourth in the Australian conference, five rounds out from the playoffs.

The Waratahs have won their past 10 encounters with their oldest rivals with their last loss to the Reds happening in 2013.

With the Brumbies having the bye, both the Waratahs and Reds have a big opportunity to make inroads on the Australian conference leaders.

“There’s a lot at stake this weekend,” Gibson said.

“I don’t know about the points ladder but there’s a real history between the two teams. That’s what we’re really focused on.

“It’s a game our boys enjoy playing. There’s an extra spice in it, particularly with the way the Reds approach the game.

“So there’s plenty on the line.”

The Daily Telegraph, AAP