1
Israel Folau praised despite costly error
By Online Editors
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has praised the performance of star Israel Folau despite his costly error that ended the match against Argentina on Saturday.
Folau, who started a test match on the wing for the first time in five years, proved incredibly effective all the way until the final siren.
Cheika used the 29-year-old in various positions across the backline throughout the night and kept him heavily involved to put the Pumas on their toes. Folau led his side with 13 runs and 127 run metres, good for an average just shy of 10 metres per carry.
"We had a strategy to move him around a fair bit like that, both in attack and defence, and I think it went quite well," Cheika said.
"I thought he had a lot of touches and he played well with the touches that he had."
Folau scored a stunning try in the 19th minute after weaving through four Pumas, but went from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde with the game on the line as he decided against passing to an unmarked Bernard Foley on the stroke of full time.
Folau made the decision to keep the ball himself and subsequently knocked on in the tackle of Tomas Lavanini, sealing the 23-19 win for the Pumas.
Cheika said he hadn't spoken to Folau specifically about those final moments and was reluctant to put the blame on his star's shoulders.
"I think that to put everything into the last play of the game is a bit naive for us," he said.
"Yes, you could have maybe got the win but you shouldn't be in that situation in the first place with the amount of opportunities we had beforehand and the amount of times we've let those opportunities go.
"It should have been well and truly finished before then.
"I still would have taken winning, mind you, don't get me wrong.
"But if you're fair dinkum you don't want to be letting that cover up other issues."
Australia will resume their Rugby Championship campaign in two weeks' time when they meet South Africa in Port Elizabeth.
In other news:
Trending on RugbyPass
2
All Blacks player ratings vs Italy
3
South Africa player ratings | 2024 Autumn Nations Series
4
Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu admits anger at Australian rugby
5
Latest Comments
Reiko should be the dual winger guy as he should be used to playing either side given he's had to do both at 13 (pass and step left/right).
Maybe he has such a bad preference that that's why he's not a good center?
Go to commentsAgreed. And I don't have much more to say on it, but I had been having one thought that sprang to mind at the tail of this discussion, and that is that it's not all about Razor.
It's not about any coach being "right". I think a lot of selections can become defense and while it doesn't really apply here I really enjoyed that Andy Farrell just gave into the public demands and changed out his team for the change that had been asked for. Like why not? This is the countries team, keep them engaged. The whole reason i've only just finished watching the game was because I wasn't interested in watching any of the selected players against a team like Italy (still actually enjoyed the first half with the contest Italy made of it).
Faz leap frogs a younger half back into start. He hands the golden child the game over July's golden child. He gives an old winger a go, a new flanker and hooker. None of them really did any good, certainly not enough to suggest they should have been promoted above others, but who cares? You won, and you gave the country what they wanted, that's all that matters after all. It's for the country, not the one in charge who thinks they have to have their own pied piper tune playing.
Go to comments