NSW captain Dave Dennis is backing Israel Folau to let his football do the talking as debate rages over whether or not the Waratahs’ Super Rugby revelation should be named in the Wallabies squad on Sunday.
Folau’s fullback battle with the Brumbies’ fellow Wallabies hopeful Jesse Mogg will be one of the key individual match-ups at ANZ Stadium.
Firmly in Mogg’s corner, Brumbies coach Jake White remains adamant it would be “an indictment on the Wallabies jumper” if code-hopping Folau was handed a gold jersey without committing to rugby long-term.
Dennis, though, says White’s remarks would be water off a duck’s back for the laidback Folau and believes the ongoing speculation over both his national selection chances and playing future won’t affect him.
“Israel is a pretty easy going guy and he is a quality player and he knows his strengths,” he said.
“I’m sure he’s the only one in Australia who knows what he wants to do. The beauty is he is on our team each week until the end of the season at least.
“He is going really well for us. Obviously rugby fans and the club would love for him to hang around, and the Wallabies as well.”
Personally, Dennis believes the 24-year-old is deserving of a spot in Deans’ 31-man squad for the much-hyped series with the touring British and Irish Lions in June and July after delivering four man-of-the-match performances in ony 11 games for the Waratahs.
“My opinion is you pick your best team,” he said.
“It’s a once-every-12-year Test series. You pick your best available team and the way he is going he is one of the form backs in the comp.
“Jake’s got that opinion. He’s entitled to it. Izzy has heard it all before. He’s copped plenty of grief in his career, jumping from league to AFL to rugby. I don’t think it worries him, to be honest.”