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'Superstar of the future': Wallaroos back 18-year-old to shine against France
By AAP
Wallaroos assistant coach Scott Fava says teenage fullback Faitala Moleka has the talent to be a rugby superstar as the Australians prepare for France in their WXV1 clash in Dunedin on Saturday
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Moleka is playing her fifth Test after making her debut against Fiji in May, with the 18-year-old continuing to build on her game since her transition from sevens to 15-a-side this year.
The Wallaroos are looking to upset giant-killers France, who downed world champions New Zealand 18-17 on their home turf in round one last week.
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The Australians are coming off a 42-7 loss to world No.1 England in Wellington to open their campaign.
With the roof closed at Forsyth Barr Stadium, the Wallaroos are looking to get the likes of Moleka heavily involved in the game.
Also her coach at ACT Brumbies, Fava has been impressed with the progress of the speedster who only played her first Super W match this year.
While Moleka could be part of Australia’s sevens Olympic campaign in Paris next year, he said the sky’s the limit for the youngster in both formats.
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“Faitala has been a talent since day one,” Fava said from their Dunedin base on Friday.
“When she gets the opportunity with ball in hand she’s got the best footwork in the team so she’s got the basis of a superstar of the future, a world XV player.
“She should be proud of what she’s got in terms of her weaponry but she’s working really hard to make it better.
“But this is going to be a very big test for her.”
The clash with world No.3 France is going to be a challenge for all of the Australian players but Fava felt they matched up well.
As well as harnessing the set-piece strengths of the Six Nations teams, France showed their willingness to play with width, with their back three, fullback Morgane Bourgeois and wingers Cyrielle Banet and Emilie Boulard a major threat.
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“They’re very similar to New Zealand as they have a transitional game and we know that they move the ball quickly, they move it to their wingers,” Fava said of the Tri-Colours.
“From an attack point, what the Black Ferns didn’t adjust to is that they pushed the ball, they weren’t patient and subsequently that’s what France were looking for – those turnovers and opportunity to get into transition.
“The big things for us is being patient and executing our plan … we’ve got to stifle their possession and if we’re up for this challenge, we’re going to be in the hunt.”
