WALLABIES’ LOSS TO ARGENTINA STILL HAUNTS FOLAU
Wallabies critics take out frustrations on one of most talented players
AS hard as he tries, Israel Folau just can’t escape the ongoing scrutiny over Australia’s crushing loss to Argentina last month.
Although he wasn’t blamed by his teammates over the defeat, Folau was heavily criticised on social media for the Wallabies’ 23-19 loss at the Gold Coast.
Of all Australia’s gutwrenching defeats this season, that loss remains the hardest to stomach because it was one that got away and triggered an ugly spat between irate spectators and some players.
Folau scored a brilliant solo try in the first half but still copped most of the flak when he elected to go himself in the final minute and lost the ball when Bernard Foley was unmarked outside him with the line wide open.
Almost three weeks later, Folau still hasn’t spoken about the match but his code of silence hasn’t stopped the incident from being discussed by everyone else in the lead-up to Australia’s return fixture in Argentina.
Wallabies winger Tom Banks was grilled about it before a training session in Buenos Aires and said Folau was just trying to put the match behind him and move on.
“He had a good game, he scored that unbelievable try and he’s not focused on what people are saying,” Banks said.
“I don’t think he looks at social media. The things he brings to the team, he’s an unbelievable player. He’s not worried about that.”
Banks wasn’t picked for that match but said everyone in the Wallabies’ squad shared some responsibility for the defeat because they had plenty of other chances to win the game.
The Wallabies have struggled with their finishing all season and will need to get that part of their game right if they hope to turn the tables on the Pumas.
“At the international level you only get a few opportunities. You need to capitalise on them,” Banks said.
“That’s the biggest thing we’ve spoken about as a backs unit, just being able to actually finish off tries. You can get close, you can make line breaks but if you’re not scoring tries, you’re not going to win games.”
Banks admitted the team’s terrible record this year was playing on everyone’s mind but insisted the side was making good progress.
“You can’t really avoid it, you’ve got to look hard and realise we have lost eight out of the last 10,” he said.