Can Israel lead the Aussies to promised land?

MELBOURNE: Michael Cheika may have become jaded by jokes about being the saviour of Australian rugby but he could afford to bask in the soft glow of pride on Wednesday as he delivered Israel Folau to the promised land for another three years.

With a post-World Cup player drain set to weaken Wallaby stocks, retaining dual international Folau until 2018 was vital for the Australian Rugby Union, which has been beset by financial problems and battered by scandal.

In 2013, Cheika was instrumental in bringing Folau across to the Waratahs, when the player was depressed by his ill-fated two-year stint in Australian Rules football.

Former league star, Folau’s brilliant adaptation to the 15-man code brought disillusioned crowds back to games in Sydney, where they marveled at the explosive back’s power and flair.

Folau’s early appearances for the Wallabies also seemed touched by the divine as he notched a joint-record 10 tries in a debut season.

The duo celebrated a maiden Super Rugby trophy at the Waratahs last year.

Cheika laughed off jokes that he had saved Australian rugby from itself with his Sydney success. Months later, the jokes wore thin when he was hurriedly installed as Australia coach, a team riven by scandal.

Kurtley Beale had inadvertently sparked the resignation of former coach Ewen McKenzie when he sent misogynistic text messages to teammates about a female staffer.

Cheika took flak for recalling the disgraced utility back into his Wallabies team and the coach’s halo slipped further when they lost most of their matches.

His tenure at the Waratahs ended in disappointment on Saturday, their title defence halted in the semi-finals by the Highlanders.

On Wednesday, Cheika could comfort himself that he had secured a bigger prize for Australian rugby.

“Michael Cheika has also created a team environment which players really want to be part of, and that for me was one of the most important things when weighing up my future,” said Folau, who signed a three-year extension to his national contract.

Ranked sixth in the world, Australia head into World Cup warmup tests at their lowest position since the rankings were introduced.

They face an uphill battle merely breaking out of their ‘group of death’ in England where they have been drawn with Wales and the hosts.

Delivering Australia a third trophy World Cup may be beyond both master-coach and messiah but in securing Folau, Cheika has given Australian rugby hope of a post-World Cup future. – Reuters