Folau talks up clash of SBW and Te’o
ISRAEL Folau has lauded the Sonny Bill Williams offload as “almost unstoppable” but old flatmate Ben Te’o as one shrewd defender capable of rattling his ribs.
The millions of hopeful rugby fans galvanising behind the British and Irish Lions are wondering the same thing heading into the biggest Test of the year against the All Blacks in Auckland tomorrow.
Even as a ring-wise 30year-old with 106kg of hitting power, Te’o has his work cut out in the centres where the marauding Williams is capable of igniting a Test-turning play.
Folau, the Wallabies fullback, is intrigued by tomorrow’s titanic collision in Auckland because it was their conversations over the breakfast table that triggered the remarkable Te’o tale.
Te’o was playing rugby league at Souths in 2013-14 when he shared a Sydney unit with Folau for five months.
“That’s when it all came about, me playing for the Waratahs and Benny playing for Souths,” Folau said.
“Ben asked me about rugby and how he’d go.
“I was confident with how Benny would make the transition and told him so because of his make-up and his bit of background in rugby (until under-15s).”
Folau laughed when it was suggested that a 10 per cent contract cut as an unofficial player agent should be heading his way for steering Te’o on to a rugby path with Leinster, Worcester, England and now the famous Lions.
“I wish,” Folau said with a laugh. “With Ben and Sonny you will have two great players going at it in a great overall battle of teams.”
It was classic SBW earlier this month when he exploded through the Lions defence and dished a sweet backhanded offload to Ihaia West for a matchwinning Blues try.
Folau said Te’o had the awareness to be as ready as he could be against Williams.
“Ben is good at finding those opportunities for a big shot and defence is definitely a big part of his game,” he said.