Genia nails his new look
The late Colin Meads may have growled dismay when first hearing of All Blacks shaving their legs, but Will Genia will be the first Wallaby to play a Test in nail polish.
Those who have noticed a splash of red on Genia’s left hand are not mistaken – he’s daubed his nails as a playful nod to two-year-old daughter Olivia.
Former Wallaby Chris Latham once made an “A” finger sign to the TV cameras after scoring a try to acknowledge daughter Ashley. Fijian sevens wizard Waisale Serevi had boots with the names of his kids written on them, and countless players pen family names on wrist bandages.
But Genia has gone an extra step by putting nail polish on his left hand ahead of his Test return from a calf injury against Wales in Cardiff tomorrow morning.
“My daughter painted them one time and did a real bad job,” Genia said with a laugh.
“I did the job for her, just something for Olivia. Cute though.”
Genia can progress to fake nails if he likes, as long as he brings his bullet pass to Millennium Stadium to give his outside supports an extra second when the Welsh defenders start with their pressure tactics.
It’s the sort of Test where the return of experienced halves Genia (79 Tests) and Bernard Foley (52) will be invaluable after injury and illness sidelined them in Japan last weekend.
“I’m back to 100 per cent and really happy to be out there bouncing around in full training for the first time in two weeks,” Genia said after his run on the artificial turf at Cardiff Arms Park.
Genia said the call to unite two 100kg-plus centres against Wales, with Samu Kerevi selected beside Tevita Kuridrani, had balance because of the ball players around them.
“They gave us nice go-forward against Japan and that’s something we want to take into this weekend,” Genia said.
“It works well with Kurtley (Beale) chiming in from fullback as a second ball player (with Foley) and it allows us that extra big body in the centres.”
Genia detailed how Kerevi had rediscovered his decisive style after doubts had crept in during difficult times this season.
“I room with Samu all the time and he got stuck in a cycle where he questioned everything ... should I do this or that, should I go up or sit back,” Genia said.
“I just told him ‘if you’ve done the work, don’t question yourself, just back yourself to make the right decisions’.”
The Welsh have elected to play two ball players too, with one-cap rookie Owen Williams at inside centre beside regular five-eighth Dan Biggar.
Wales v Australia, 3.15am tomorrow (AEST)