Israel Folau plans to lean on Lote Tuqiri and other dual internationals if he continues on the fast track all the way to Wallabies selection this year.
Folau on Friday took another giant stride towards joining the likes of Tuqiri and fellow former rugby league converts Mat Rogers and Wendell Sailor as a dual international when included in a 30-man camp to prepare for the British and Irish Lions series.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said while it was too early to promise the code-hopping star a Test jumper for the Lions tour, the 24-year-old had shown enough in his seven Super Rugby games for the NSW Waratahs to ensure he’d be in the mix for selection come June.
“We’ve seen Israel play top-level sport and he’s very comfortable in the arena,” Deans said.
“He enjoys the big stage so his transition to union has been remarkably smooth. He’s confirmed what we knew already.
“It’s not an easy transition. We’ve seen that previously with others. But Israel’s made good strides.
“He’s had good game time, which has been great, and you can see the little steps each week. He’s just looking more comfortable and finding ways to get into the game.
“Obviously he’s in our thinking. He’s on our radar and he’s shown he’s perfectly capable of playing at that level.”
This time last year, Folau was making a less-than-triumphant transition from league to the AFL with Greater Western Sydney.
He admits he’s feeling much more at home in rugby, but said it’d be foolish not to sound out the likes of Tuqiri, Rogers and Sailor to ensure he continues to rise up the ranks in the 15-man code.
“If I happen to get picked for the Wallabies down the track, it would be nice to speak to guys like Lote and that with their experience playing the game,” he told AAP.
“At this stage, I’m just happy to get an invitation to the camp, to the party, to see what goes on.
“It feels like it’s the start of my career again. I remember the first time I got my call-up to play for the Kangaroos, it was a huge honour for me.
“I was 18 at the time and it was pretty exciting. It’s the same feeling now.
“To get an invitation to be part of this camp is huge.
“It would be a massive honour to represent the Wallabies.”