Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
FIFTEEN months after Berrick Barnes' famous pre-Test baby dash scuttled his first shot at a Wallabies debut, Bernard Foley believes he'll be better equipped to finally pull on the gold jersey.
Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
Foley will take his place on the Wallabies bench for a probable debut in Rosario on Sunday morning (AEST) after almost filling the same role in the second Test against Wales June last year.
Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
The NSW utility was the plan B option on standby when Barnes raced back to Sydney from Melbourne on Test eve to be at the birth of his first child Archie.
With Mike Harris set to move into the starting side, Foley studied up on all the plays and prepared as if he was going to play right up until a few hours before the match.
"They said they'd booked him a flight at 4pm," Foley recalled.
"If he is on it, he's on it and if he's not, you're on the bench.
"I was probably the only bloke in Australia praying the labour went on for a bit longer."
Foley was joking, of course, and his good mate ultimately arrived back in Melbourne two hours before kickoff.
"He went out there and played the game of his life, he was man of the match," Foley said.
"It was an awesome effort."
Though now a settled five-eighth, Foley was named in the slightly unfamiliar role of last man on the bench, a spot which traditionally covers outside backs.
"It's a very proud moment. Hopefully I can get on the field," Foley said.
"At that stage (last year) I don't think I had played any games at fly-half, so to have a whole season under my belt and play every (Super Rugby) game gives me a lot of confidence. It has also allowed me to develop as a player, I think."
Coach Ewen McKenzie said Foley - a former Australian sevens skipper - could cover most positions in the backline and had demanded selection with training park form.
"It doesn't matter who you talk to, he has impressed not only coaches but teammates with his footballing ability and just in the way he conducts himself," he said.
"He has energy and brings good talk and a good football brain. You look at this game that's what we're going to need."
McKenzie said Foley would be strategically used in the last quarter of the match to take advantage of his skill at slicing open tired defences.
"We need to create pressure on the opposition, and be able to take moments. If you have a quick look at his stats, you'll find he's the guy who made the most linebreaks for the Tahs and created the most headaches for the opposition," McKenzie said.
"That'll be very handy in the last period of the game."
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Foley primed for Wallabies debut
Dengan url
http://sportifoclube.blogspot.com/2013/10/foley-primed-for-wallabies-debut.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Foley primed for Wallabies debut
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Foley primed for Wallabies debut
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar