Bowden handed huge task in first game for five years
CONTAINING Israel Folau is a task all teams grapple with but the Blues also realise the importance of matching the Waratahs star’s physicality.
Folau served a telling reminder of his class in the one-sided Australian derby with the Brumbies last week – scoring one try, his first in six games, setting up another by pushing off Wallabies team-mate Tevita Kuridrani and making several valuable incisions from the back.
That burst woke Folau from a quiet start to the season, previously most memorable for being robbed by Malakai Fekitoa in Dunedin.
Still, with
14
offloads,
609 Waratahs: Benn Robinson, Tolu Latu, Sekope Kepu, Will Skelton, David Dennis (c), Jacques Potgieter, Michael Hooper, Wycliff Palu, Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley, Rob Horne, Kurtley Beale, Matt Carraro, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Israel Folau. Replacements: Hugh Roach, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Jeremy Tilse, Paddy Ryan, Sam Lousi, Mitchell Chapman, Stephen Hoiles, Brendan McKibbin, Jono Lance, Peter Betham (two to be omitted) metres, four try assists and 23 defenders beaten to this point, his freakish threats are ever-present.
Responsibility for shutting Blues: Tony Woodcock, James Parsons, Charlie Faumuina, Hayden Triggs, Patrick Tuipulotu, Steven Luatua, Brendon O’Connor, Jerome Kaino (c), Jimmy Cowan, Dan Bowden, Melani Nanai, Francis Saili, George Moala, Frank Halai Charles Piutau. Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Ofa Tu’ungafasi/Sam Prattley, Angus Ta’avao, Culum Retallick, Luke Braid, Jamison Gibson-Park, Simon Hickey, Pita Ahki. down Folau’s attacking opportunities largely rests on Daniel Bowden’s shoulders tonight.
In his first Super Rugby match for five years, Bowden must nail his tactical kicking duties. Finding space is crucial to limiting Folau’s time to assess his options. There is little margin for error. Hungry chases, first-up spot tackles and a solid defensive line also have key roles.
Fail to do so and instead give the athletic fullback time to wind up and he’ll invariably beat at least the first man and put others into space to launch lethal counter attacking raids.
‘‘We’ve highlighted where he is and where he’s at as a player. He’s a big threat,’’ Bowden said. ‘‘We’ve got some plans in place so hopefully we don’t kick the ball down his throat too many times otherwise he’ll come back to haunt us.’’
Of course, Folau is one man. Neither he, nor Kurtley Beale or Bernard Foley, will pose many problems without a platform.
The Blues took away their collective front-foot ball in the 21-13 victory over the defending champions at Eden Park last year. That match was notable not for attacking flair, but the combative challenges from All Blacks Charlie Faumuina, Jerome Kaino and Patrick Tuipulotu.
To beat the Tahs you must first match or better their aggressive big men. South African enforcer Jacque Potgieter, Wycliff Palu, Sekope Kepu and mammoth lock Will Skelton all carry and hit with vigour. The Blues know they must get off the line on defence and be willing to scrap for forward dominance throughout to register their first win of the year and, indeed, cause a major upset.