FLAWED GENIUS
Aussies should be relieved Folau’s actions speak louder than words
DID he really just say that? As far as poor choices of words go, labeling Israel Folau ‘the golden boy’ as he dived over the tryline against Ireland last week was particularly ill-advised.
Luckily for Sky Sports, Folau’s 60th minute try was disallowed due to foul play from Wallabies lock Adam Coleman in the buildup, meaning that odd quote from commentator Mark Robson wouldn’t be making the postgame highlights montage.
With Folau, it is very difficult to forget about the hugely controversial rugby personality when enjoying his achievements as a phenomenal rugby player.
Without question, the Waratahs fullback is one of the finest players in the game.
The 29-year-old’s remarkable ability in the air is arguably his most devastating trait, but he also possesses blinding pace and a lethal scoring touch — he’s bagged 32 tries in 63 international appearances.
However, it is his actions off the field that put Folau front and centre in the build-up to Ireland’s three-Test series against Michael Cheika’s Wallabies.
Last December, Australia voted to legalise same-sex marriage, with the yes vote taking an overwhelming majority.
Folau was not a member of that majority.
Raised as a Mormon, in 2011 Folau converted to the Assemblies of God, who view the words of the Bible as the sole source of knowledge about God.
In April, he was asked on the picture-sharing app, Instagram, about his views on homosexuality, to which he relied: ‘HELL... Unless they repent of their sins and turn to God.’
Folau’s comment was deleted soon after, but the damage had been done.
Despite the fall-out, there was no indication that the Wallabies would suspend one of their star players, although perhaps most alarmingly for Rugby Australia, key sponsors Qantas and Land Rover both voiced their disappointment at Folau’s comments.
A strange stand-off ensued, with the player offering to walk away from his €1.3million-a-year contract if it was felt that his religious views were damaging the sport.
Neither side drew fire, and so the whole episode was put to one side, with Cheika stating that he was ‘not going to be reading the riot act about things to anybody’ as his side prepared to host the Six Nations champions.
In a column for the PlayersVoice website, Folau later reiterated his stance, explaining: ‘Jesus told us that when you stand up for Him in this world, you can expect backlash. I find peace in that.
‘I would sooner lose everything — friends, family, possessions, my football career, the lot — and still stand with Jesus, than have all of those things and not stand beside Him.’
In the pre-social media age, perhaps the Australian would have been able to live his life in peace and keep his private beliefs, well… private.
Instead, the episode created an unwanted sideshow in the leadup to the series.
Wallabies captain David Pocock — an advocate and outspoken campaigner for LGBT rights and same-sex marriage in Australia — had to publicly state that there was still ‘respect’ between the pair. In 2015, Pocock was praised for reporting Folau’s Waratahs team-mate Jacques Potgieter to the referee for using the word ‘f **** t’ during a game.
‘It doesn’t change the way we feel about each other,’ Pocock insisted of Folau’s remarks, and that much was made clear by the manner in which the captain and his team-mates raced over to celebrate with Folau before that 60th-minute try was crossed off in Brisbane last weekend.
Over the course of those 80 minutes, the versatile back reinforced his importance to the Wallaby cause. Ireland boss Joe Schmidt was quick to single him out as the game’s defining factor — ‘It’s very hard to stop a man like Israel Folau,’ was the New Zealander’s short verdict.
Such was his impact that Ireland are guaranteed to bring the majority of their key players back into the team for Saturday’s second Test in Melbourne, while Schmidt will also tweak his gameplan to limit Folau’s opportunities under the high ball.
In Brisbane, the full-back collected the ball from kicks eight times, the standout being the stunning two-hand catch over the head of 6ft3in Jacob Stockdale followed by a brilliant onehanded offload as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
It was a moment of brilliance which will not have gone unnoticed by Folau’s many admirers, with his Waratahs contract due to expire at the end of the year.
Should he continue this fine run of form and decide to move on, there will be no shortage of suitors.
In the world of professional sport, actions still speak louder than words.