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Have the Wallabies found their replacement for Israel Folau?

Dane Haylett-Petty. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

He refuses to talk up his chances but Dane Haylett-Petty has done his hopes of taking over the Wallabies fullback jersey no harm with a starring performance in Melbourne’s Super Rugby win over Queensland.

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With Israel Folau’s World Cup likely in tatters, the Rebels skipper is one of the leading contenders to wear the No.15 jersey in Japan later this year.

Brumbies fullback Tom Banks has also put his hand up while Kurtley Beale has impressed since taking over from Folau.

The 29-year-old showed poise under pressure to steer the Rebels to a tricky 30-24 win at AAMI Park on Friday night.

Haylett-Petty ran a game high 126m, which was 49m more than any other player, lead the tackle busts with five and also scored a try.

Melbourne coach Dave Wessels said Haylett-Petty was incredibly valuable for the Rebels.

“He’s got a real presence with the team,” Wessels said.

“He doesn’t say a lot but the team gravitate towards him and one of the reasons we’ve handled pressure situations better is because Dane is there and he navigates the team through it and everyone follows him.”

Asked about his ambitions of playing test fullback rather than on the wing as he adds to his 29 test caps, Haylett-Petty said he’d love to be anywhere in the team, although admitted he enjoyed being at the back.

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“I do enjoy playing at fullback and getting a little bit more involved – it’s hard to stay out of the game,” the 29-year-old said.

Haylett-Petty missed a month of matches through a toe injury, only returning for the past two games.

He said the upside of being on the bench was that he felt mentally and physically fresh.

“It was disappointing missing those weeks but the benefit is that I was able to come back when everyone else was a little bit tired,” he said.

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The Rebels have one injury concern out of the match with five-eighth Quade Cooper suffering concussion after his head hit Reds centre Samu Kerevi’s knee.

Wessels said Cooper was feeling fine post-match but would “go on the concussion pathway” which could put him in doubt for next Friday’s home match against the Bulls.

AAP

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Nickers 36 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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