[ad_1]
- Izzy's rugby career
- NRL days over Folau commits to Wallabies
MILESTONE man Sonny Bill Williams expects Israel Folau to be a big, jinky handful when the Wallabies search for pain relief All Yokohama has a Bledisloe Cup Test.
All Blacks boss Steve Hansen is masterful at delivering wry barbs and he was still reminding the Wallabies: "The Bledisloe is already gone. Finished. "
Hansen was not belittling the contest at all, just reminding the world of New Zealand's thumping 2-0 trans-Tasman superiority this season before reframing the showdown as a dead rubber.
"It's a one-off Test match, the winner takes all … and we need to be on top of our game," Hansen said.
Aussie sporting teams in the world of austere sportsmen and women in the world. No.7 in the world.
"No, I do not think it's a reflection of how good they are," Hansen said.
"They could lose five, six, seven games in a row and then come out and beat the best team in the world because they think they can."
WALLABIES TEAM: Enforcer out, shock backline reshuffle
The jigsaw pieces of this Wallabies have been taken seriously by Folau picked up outside the first time in his 70th Test, top lock Adam Coleman withdrawing late with groin disorder and Allan Alaalatoa's pro form bumping Taniela Tupou back to the bench.
Speedster Sefa Naivalu has won his first Test opportunity in 16 months to fill the hole left by Folau's fill-in role while flanker Jack Dempsey and Samu Kerevi will make comebacks from long-term injuries from the bench.
Nowhere is there a more mouthwatering match-up than when in the middle of the world.
"He is pretty jinky, the big fella so you've got to trust the guys in your back to help out," Williams said.
"He's popping up everywhere and carrying off the set piece (in midfield) from the wing so I would not change the backwater."
Williams will celebrate the 50-Test milestone in Yokohama, a proud journey through heady World Cup triumphs and injury gullies since his debut in 2010.
"50 Tests … I'm a bit of an old fella, it only took my 10 years to get here. I'm grateful," Williams said.
"I did not have that connection (with rugby) because I grew up as a league player. With my faith in my ability to help me improve my life
Cheika knows Folau has the starch and expected the Williams' threat to challenge established backs as much as his rookie center.
"When Williams gets going, he's pretty hard to stop," Cheika said.
"But, I think they'll be challenging the little blokes Izzy and I back Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley.
"Kurtley is one of the most courageous players, and they will be putting their bodies on the line because they are there for Australia."
Cheika said Coleman's withdrawal was a loss but he was a fire under 90-Test replacement Rob Simmons to show it was not at all.
"I think Rob's got a lot to prove here … he's so good at it, and he's going to be able to hear about it," Cheika said.
The eight-man bench will be played by the player on Friday but Cheika gave the nod that Dempsey would be there, a big return for a player who has played just five months in the past 12 months after a major hamstring injury.
wallabies: Dane Haylett-Petty, Sefa Naivalu, Israel Folau, Kurtley Beale, Marika Koroibete, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, David Pobad, Michael Hooper (c), Ned Hanigan, Izack Rodda, Simmons Rob, Allan Alaalatoa, Folau Faingaa, Scott Sio. Res: Tolu Latu, Sekope Kepu, Taniela Tupou, Rory Arnold, Jack Dempsey, Pete Samu, Nick Phipps, Tom Kerevi, Tom Banks (one reserve to be missed).
ALL BLACKS: Damian McKenzie, Ben Smith, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Kieran Read (c), Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Reserves: Nathan Harris, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Nepo Laulala, Brodie Retallick, Todd Matt, Aaron Smith, Richie Mo'unga, Anton Lienert-Brown
Get ready for cricket like never before. FREE Sport HD + Entertainment until the first 4K cricket ball as part of 3 months free on a 12 month plan. SIGN UP TODAY. T & Cs apply.
Source link
