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'It's a step closer now' - Folau brothers open up about dream of playing together

John Folau during his stint with the Parramatta Eels. Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images

Wallabies fullback Israel Folau and brother John Folau are one step closer to achieving their “dream” of playing together for the Waratahs.

24-year-old John Folau has crossed codes from rugby league to rugby union after three years in the NRL, and has latched on to older brother Israel’s Super Rugby side.

The pair discussed their hopes of playing together in a video interview on Rugby Australia’s official website.

“For me it almost felt like you were going to high school and your younger brother is just starting high school, you kind of have to look after him,” Israel Folau said.

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“That’s how I felt. Make sure he had his lunch, I had to bring his lunch and stuff. Monday and Tuesday was like that. But I forget he is a grown man and he has kids. I don’t even have any kids.”

Israel Folau, 29, is also a rugby league convert after switching from the sport to Australian Rules before finally settling in union in 2013. He is now a 71-test Wallaby and younger brother John will be hoping to follow in his footsteps.

“It’s a step closer now,” John Folau said. “We trained together for the first time this week, and it’s something I will remember.

“If I get the opportunity to play alongside him, that’s something I can take with me for the rest of my life.”

The Waratahs gave John a one-year Super Rugby contract late last year.

“Seeing Izzy coming into rugby and start to enjoy it, was a big thing for me in deciding on a change,” John said.

“I think I needed a fresh start.”

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Nickers 22 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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