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World Cup experience could be defining factor in race for Wallabies' No. 10 jersey
By Online Editors
Bernard Foley is banking on his experience from the 2015 World Cup to help solidify his place as Australia's first-choice No. 10 at this year's tournament in Japan.
The Wallabies' 2019 World Cup campaign kicks off on Saturday when they face Fiji in Sapporo, but 70-test Foley, who has been Australia's premier option at first-five since his breakout season in 2014, appears to be on the outer of head coach Michael Cheika's selection plans leading into the tournament.
The re-emergence of Brumbies playmaker Christian Lealiifano, whose stellar form in Super Rugby this year has earned him an international re-call after three years out of action at test level due to a battle with leukaemia, has seemingly pushed Foley out of pole position to start in the No. 10 jersey at Sapporo Dome in five days' time.
However, speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Foley insisted that utilising the experience he picked up while steering the Wallabies to a runner-up finish in England four years ago will be vital if Australia are to be successful in Japan.
“That experience you can definitely hopefully count on that and use that and evolve that going into this World Cup,” he said.
“It’s a tournament-style World Cup and we don’t play a lot of them and that is why the World Cup is so immense and so great because pretty much each week becomes a knockout tournament.
"It’s about knowing that you can do all your preparation beforehand and then once you get into these style tournaments it is purely week by week.
“Not that we want to reflect on [the last World Cup] because that was a whole separate era and so many guys are here doing it for their first time, so we have to let them enjoy it but there definitely has been similarities of just the hard work.”
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After having edged out the outcasted Quade Cooper as the Wallabies' starting pivot for many years under the stewardship of Cheika, Foley believes his newfound competition with Lealiifano is beneficial for not just the first-five duo, but the whole of the squad.
“It’s great competition and I’ve really enjoyed going up against [Christian] every time we’re training,” the 30-year-old said.
“We’ve been doing a lot of 15 on 15 and that means that the competition is there and it’s probably the same across all positions. Every position is being highly contested.
"It’s good to work with him on certain issues and how we’re seeing the game, how we can evolve our games and how that can benefit the side.”
While it's yet to be revealed who will don the No. 10 jersey come Saturday, whoever make Australia's starting XV isn't likely to take this promising, star-studded Fijian outfit lightly.
“We know how dangerous they are especially out in the backline,” Foley told the SMH.
“They have got a number of players who have been playing up in the European competitions who have been setting them alight. They are so dangerous in turnover and counter-attack in that unstructured style of play when they are getting their offloads.
“Four years ago in the World Cup the physicality was another level. They brought a big physicality and took us on upfront at the set-piece as well in the scrums. For us, it’s a really great game for us to test ourselves in those areas."
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It might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
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