THE FOLAU FALLOUT Wallabies ‘better off without him’

A former Wallaby now working as Rugby Australia’s elite coaching director believes the Wallabies going forward would be stronger without Israel Folau in their side ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Folau is facing the sack after Rugby Australia said it intends to end his contract in the wake of his latest anti-gay posts on social media, a year after making similar comments.

The controversy erupted after he posted a warning on Wednesday saying that ‘‘Hell waits’’ drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators unless they repent.

His rugby career looks finished but former Wallabies and Brumbies five-eighth Rod Kafer said his likely absence would benefit Australia’s national side.

‘‘If we just take the Wallabies view, we’ve struggled to find Israel’s best position for the Wallabies,’’ Kafer told Fox Sports.

‘‘He is a player that brings some real unique characteristics. But in international rugby I don’t think he’s been an outstanding player and we compensate around him, we have to pick different players in different positions.

‘‘I think the game has in some ways moved on.’’

Folau made his test debut against the British and Irish Lions in 2013 and has spent most of his 73-test career at fullback, but Kafer feels the former league and AFL star has been exposed in that role at test level and doesn’t work well as a team player.

‘‘This is a guy that has got unbelievable skills, but I don’t necessarily see him as a great team player,’’ Kafer added.

‘‘His work ethic’s not great, he doesn’t work that hard off the ball [and] defensively there are issues. I’m not a massive fan.’’

Kafer accepted the Waratah’s

‘‘I don’t necessarily see him as a great team player.’’

Rod Kafer on Israel Folau, above

obvious abilities – many consider him the best under the high ball in the world – but said he was too much individual in a team environment.

‘‘There’s always the champion team and the team of champions and there’s no question that this guy is a unique athlete, absolutely, but we’ve also got some really good, young athletes who given the right opportunity to come through may also prove to be pretty good as well.

‘‘The game is never beholden to a single individual. The game of rugby’s bigger than all of its individuals and it moves on and you find different strengths and different things.’’

Former Australian fullback Greg Martin said the Wallabies should give Melbourne Rebels captain Dane Haylett-petty a shot at fullback.

‘‘This will be like a retirement or a major injury,’’ Martin said of Folau’s expected sacking.

‘‘He’s gone, move on to the next one. Dane Haylett-petty is ready to be the Australian fullback and I reckon Israel would have been the right winger again this year [regardless of Folau’s social media posts].’’

Folau’s contract is set to be terminated following his latest controversial posts.