WIN TICKETS TO THE WALLABIES
IF the Wallabies have learned anything of late it is the importance of resilience – and now they are passing it on to Gold Coast youngsters.
Wallaby stars Adam Coleman, Nick Phipps and Reece Hodge joined coach Michael Cheika to take kids at Miami State High through a skills and tips session yesterday.
The foursome, ahead of tomorrow’s clash against Argentina at Cbus Super Stadium, hosted training, drills and a post-workout talk.
Miami State High Year 10 student Lucy Single, selected in a squad aiming to make the Gold Coast Cyclones under-17s team, said meeting the Wallabies was “like a dream come true”.
“Just being around them makes you want to play rugby professionally,” she said.
The Wallabies suffered heavy losses against the All Blacks to open the Rugby Championship but are aiming to back up last weekend’s close win over the Springboks by downing Argentina.
The Australian team for
the fixture was named yesterday with Phipps and Coleman in the reserves. Hodge was named as run-on centre.
Gold Coast junior rugby is to benefit from a $160-a-head fundraising lunch today at Royal Pines with ex-Rugby Australia CEO John O’Neill and Cheika as guest speakers.
Asked about ex-Wallaby Mat Rogers’ call this week for the side to focus on developing its intimidation factor, Mr O’Neill said: “It is not so much intimidation factor as a physical presence.
“You want to win the collisions, be impactful in defence, impregnable at the set piece, and disrupt opposition ball to slow their attack.”
ISRAEL Folau’s surprise switch to the wing for the first time in five years suggests the Wallabies have forgotten why they moved him to fullback in the first place – feasting on more chances and more tries.
Shifting Australia’s top backline weapon to the right wing only makes sense if the ball is directed to him regularly against Argentina tomorrow night on the fast, slick surface at Cbus Super Stadium at Robina.
Repeating the rations spread to wingers Marika Koroibete and Jack Maddocks last weekend against South Africa in Brisbane would be a complete waste of Folau because they only got five running chances apiece.
A fit Folau ignites a game with twice that many involvements so it is up to Wallabies playmaker Kurtley Beale and the ball-winning of the gold pack to make this a success not a flop.
It will be the first time since the opening five starts of Folau’s Wallabies career in 2013 he has started on the wing because his 61 Tests since have all be wearing the No.15 jersey.
The return of David Pocock to the Australian pack is immense after yesterday’s knocks in a contact session were a big test on his injured neck in nearly three weeks.
There is sharp logic to this change-up for Folau’s return from a month out with a twisted ankle on other levels.
On two occasions against South Africa last weekend, Folau’s extra power and finishing nous to torpedo at the stripe may have converted two Maddocks chances into tries.
It is also rich reward for Haylett-Petty’s fine play at fullback when filling in for Folau and his superior boot.
Folau will still counter-attack from the back field and roam dangerously because the Wallabies wing-fullback set-up means they often work together and interchange.
Coach Michael Cheika said he still regarded Folau as the Wallabies’ top fullback.
“That’s for sure but I think Dane has played well at fullback and I’d like to give him another go,” Cheika said.
“It’s Israel’s first game back, it’s a bit of a shake-up and we’ll set up a few things for him.”