The Queenslander made the switch from rugby league to union in 2012 and rapidly established himself as one of the finest fullbacks in the world
Simon Zebo has blasted the air-horn of caution ahead of Saturday’s Test match against Australia at the Aviva Stadium. The Irish winger missed his country’s 32-15 defeat to the Wallabies last year but was brought up to speed in the Carton House video review room. Zebo will have noted the pure devastation wreaked by Israel Folau.
The Australian fullback put up some serious numbers on his last outing in Dublin – 19 carries for 95 metres gained, one line-break, five defenders beaten, five offloads and two turnovers gained.
Zebo says, ‘Folau has got all the attributes, all the skills, the offloading ability, everything really. He’s just one of those athletes that comes around once in a generation and we’ll have to keep him quiet and put in a big performance.’
In fairness Zebo’s coaches, Joe Schmidt and Les Kiss, warned their players about kicking the ball needlessly and not putting kick-chase pressure on the Australian back three. The shame was that – drawn into an open, loose game – they did not heed their coach’s words. Adam Ashley-Cooper was muted in comparison to Folau and Nick Cummins. The ‘Honey Badger’ ran amok down the left wing and scored one blitzing try. Ireland are a tighter unit, one year on, and will rarely put a steepler into the sky without at least two men – one bolter, one tracker – in pursuit.
No matter how well drilled Ireland are, Folau has a habit of imposing himself on games. The bigger the occasion, the sooner he comes to the boil. He was named the National Rugby League Rookie of the Year after scorching in a record amount of tries in his debut season for Melbourne Storm. He switched to Aussie Rules in 2010 and suffered his first speed-bump as he struggled to replicate his league form. By the time he had settled into AFL life he was off again, this time to union and the Waratahs.
It was clear, within two Super Rugby games, that he would be fast-tracked into the Wallabies team. His first Test start arrived in the Lions tour, in 2013. Folau’s debut included the highs of scoring two tries (check out the step to fool Johnny Sexton below) and low of defeat. He got the fireman’s carry by George North in the next game but was pivotal in Australia squaring a series they would eventually cede in Sydney.
Folau has played 24 games since that Test series and scored 15 tries. He won the Super Rugby title with the Waratahs in August and looks set to stick around to help Michael Cheika’s former side retain their crown. After that, and the little matter of a World Cup, Folau should pitch up in France for some Top 14 rugby. Stade Francais, Toulouse and Racing Métro will compete for his signature but he should sign on whatever dotted line Toulon slide under his nose.
The 25-year-old kicked off his November series with a two-try performance against Wales at the Millennium Stadium but was well marshalled for large tracts of his team’s 29-26 loss to France last weekend.
SportsJOE columnist Paul Warwick warns, ‘Folau was a bit quiet, up until the last 15 minutes, against France. That, in a way, is dangerous because he is never out of the limelight for too long.’
For the record, Folau’s match stats at Stade de France were 82 metres gained on 13 carries with one line-break, three defenders beaten, two offloads and two turnovers. Another quiet night like that and Ireland could be in trouble
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