NSW coach Michael Cheika said throw Israel Folau to the Lions after the code-hopping star inspired the Waratahs to a gritty 25-20 win over the defending champion Chiefs in Friday night.
April 20th 2013 @ 5:58am
Sage said | April 20th 2013 @ 5:58am | ! Report
Good to see the Tahs come back for that win. I thought they were done for sure but that showed some composure and ticker. That first half was the best I’ve seen them play forever pretty much. Impressive. If they can build on that from here look out. Well done Tah’s and cheers to all you long suffering supporters. Enjoy.
Folau in the WB’s? Lets see what happens in the next little while but he is warming to it for sure.
April 20th 2013 @ 7:13am
mikeylives said | April 20th 2013 @ 7:13am | ! Report
I think this comment says it best. As a long suffering Tahs supporter, at 75 minutes, I was convinced it would be a typical close-but-no-cigar loss.
Credit to Dennis who played like a captain in those final minutes and also to the whole team for chancing their arm at the right times to relentlessly take it from their own 22 to score. They never looked like being stopped.
Hooper is a man mountain.
Foley is a Wallaby in the making for sure.
April 20th 2013 @ 7:30am
eagleJack said | April 20th 2013 @ 7:30am | ! Report
Yeah Dennis, just like against the Blues, took some tough carries at the death to get the team moving forward. Good on him I think it’s these types of plays that show he is a leader.
Hooper, Palu, Douglas and AAC should all be close to making the Wallaby starting side. Great performances from each of them last night.
April 20th 2013 @ 10:19am
DMac said | April 20th 2013 @ 10:19am | ! Report
Foley’s kicking game was very poor last night. He needs to work on that before anyone considers him for wallaby selection.
April 20th 2013 @ 11:22am
Stin said | April 20th 2013 @ 11:22am | ! Report
I agree, his kicking form is down. Maybe, as Cheika sys, as they’ve been working so much at playing with ball in hand and not working on so much game management, that he hasn’t been drilling his kicking enough. Still won the game for us with that pass to Ulugia. Knowing when to play flat or not like he did there was a great sign of growing maturity.
April 20th 2013 @ 6:27am
Albo said | April 20th 2013 @ 6:27am | ! Report
Jeez I love Cheikas interviews. Direct, no BS, no mind reading or cryptic responses. Exactly what’s needed at the Tahs and its showing.
I think anytime the Tahs have a penalty advantage close to the line they should try the cross field kick. I can’t see many challenging izzy in the air to be honest and if they rush players out wide to cover, boom… Send someone through the middle.
April 20th 2013 @ 6:40am
Who Needs Melon said | April 20th 2013 @ 6:40am | ! Report
Folau was magnificent. Barring injury he will DESERVEDLY wear gold in his first year. I’d like to be sure he’d be comfortable on the wing too now.
Well done Tahs. That was a turning point match I think. They could easily have thought “oh well, we gave it a good shot” when the Chiefs took the lead but they didn’t. Forwards can hold their heads up high this morning, sore as they are.
April 20th 2013 @ 6:57am
jutsie said | April 20th 2013 @ 6:57am | ! Report
Izzy deserves to at least be in the 30 man squad and possibly the wallaby 22. He has improved every game and with mogg out injured has been the best aus outside back in the last month and a half.
I didn’t rate him when he first came over but am happy to be proven wrong, hope he sticks with union for a few more years.
April 20th 2013 @ 9:25am
Sage said | April 20th 2013 @ 9:25am | ! Report
Best in the last month and a half? He’s getting better but that’s a big call. I think Speight has been better
April 20th 2013 @ 10:05am
jutsie said | April 20th 2013 @ 10:05am | ! Report
True its a tough call between speight, mogg and Izzy although I think Izzy is a bit better in d than speight
April 20th 2013 @ 7:08am
eagleJack said | April 20th 2013 @ 7:08am | ! Report
I have felt for a while that Folau will be Australia’s premier outside back by year’s end and the way he is improving that looks a near certainty. You can see the guys confidence growing every match and he is starting to trust his instincts and not worry so much about being isolated. Crazy to think he has only played around 10 games of rugby in total.
But for me the Lions may be just a tad early for him. And definitely way too early for the 15 jersey. An inability to kick would come back to haunt him at international level. Perhaps a spot on the wing? Ultimately if he stays in the game beyond this year I think he should be moved to 13. Could be what the Wallabies have been missing.
April 20th 2013 @ 10:22am
DMac said | April 20th 2013 @ 10:22am | ! Report
I think he can kick fine distance-wise, he’s just still learning the angles. He doesn’t get much practice at the Tahs. Did he need to kick at all last night?
April 20th 2013 @ 7:24am
moaman said | April 20th 2013 @ 7:24am | ! Report
Well done the ‘Tahs…thought they deserved it in the end-much as it pains me to see the Chiefs go down-again.