International
Foley taking lessons from 2019 into Wallabies second coming
Returning Wallaby Bernard Foley is heeding the lessons of the 2019 Rugby World Cup as he looks to lead a new generation of players from a similar path.
Foley remained in Japan after their quarter-final exit to England, plying his trade in Top League with Kubota Spears.
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The 32-year-old had accepted his International career could be over, despite qualifying under old Giteau law criteria before chats begin with coach Dave Rennie last year.
Whilst he initially knocked back Rennie’s advance, it allowed him to reflect on his own career, ‘liting the fire again’ for a return in time for the Tests against the Springboks in Adelaide and Sydney.
“Dave and I first spoke after the French series and we had a really good, open chat about whether that was the right timing or somewhere else down the line and for me personally, it wasn’t the right to come in given I was coming back from overseas and bubble and having some family stuff. It probably wasn’t the right time and wasn’t in the right mindset,” he told reporters.
“It gave me time to reflect and really dive down into what I personally needed, lit the fire again about coming back in. We had open chats for the rest of (2021) and this season so to have that call-up and chat three weeks ago, I was eager and jumped at the opportunity.
“I’d always hoped and thought about it but I never thought the opportunity would come up again, especially leaving and going overseas knowing the eligibility had the ability to change, I had to be content with not getting the opportunity again when I left in 2019.
“To now get the opportunity to be back in the squad and wear the colours, I’m pretty grateful and excited to get that second opportunity.”
Not only did he reflect on his career, Foley took the time to understand where it went wrong in 2019.
It provides a unique position in a squad lacking older heads due to injury and withdrawals, urging them to embrace the moment.
“I think we were in a place where we cared too much,” he reflected. “We tried to force it too much and tried too hard to change the outcomes and go in there and have an unbelievable tournament.
“I suppose that’s where the intent and purpose was alright but the exception and how we carried it out, we weren’t able to circuit-break ourselves enough through those couple of years leading up into the World Cup.
“That’s what I’m enjoying about being in here and really understanding there’s only a finite time in this jersey and in this program, doing what we get to do so to make the most of it and enjoy it.
“That’s what I’m trying to tell a guy like Langi (Gleeson), it is a finite amount of time you get to spend in these programs so make the most of every day.”
From the outside looking in, there are clear comparisons to be made between 2019 and 2022 within the halves department as the Wallabies struggle for stability.
In the first three Tests of 2019, then coach Michael Chieka went with three different halves combinations before appearing to settle on a Nic White-Christian Leali’ifano combination ahead of the World Cup.
However, this changed throughout the tournament as the combo of White, Leali’ifano, Foley and Will Genia were slotted and changed until their ugly exit to England.
Whilst White has remained a constant figure over the past 12 months, Rennie has experimented with Noah Lolesio, James O’Connor and Quade Cooper.
Cooper was the frontrunner before injury and a Spring Tour withdrawal left O’Connor and Lolesio battling for positions.
Lolesio was preferred for England, then replaced by the Reds playmaker, with the experienced O’Connor now out of the squad completely.
Despite this, Foley believes it’s in a much better position than three years ago, excited to add to the ‘healthy’ competition.
“Combinations and time together builds better relationships and creates that understanding, I think 2019 it was completely different from what we have now,” Foley explained.
“The intention and the purpose was right back then just the execution and game plan (wasn’t). I think what we are working with today is competition for spots is a healthy thing within teams. You want guys to drive but coming in and seeing here for one day, everyone is working with each other to get a better outcome and product.
“That’s the exciting thing from the short time I’ve been here is looking to add to that.”
Foley has kept fit after the end of the Japanese season, training with the Waratahs alongside the next generation of halves in Ben Donaldson and Tane Edmed.
He also took the chance to praise Lolesio for his outlook, despite the young half finding himself constantly in and out of the side.
The two barely got a chance to cross paths before Foley’s departure but the Brumbies’ confidence and control is something that has instantly impressed the 71-Test veteran.
“How we can develop these young guys now is really exciting,” he believes.
“I’ve done some work with Benny Donaldson and Tane Edmed, now in here with Noah, I’m really excited because I see these guys as immensely talented. They have the composure, mentality and the Rugby IQ to run teams, they just need the time in the saddle to really understand and master their craft.
“It’s difficult just being young in this environment but I’ve been really impressed with (Noah) coming in and meeting him, just how composed and confident he is. I don’t think it’s been knocked around, I think he’s a guy who can come in and call the shots. I’m excited to be working with him and seeing how he sees the game and will run it.”
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The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is delighted to announce the return of the ‘A’ Interprovincial Men’s Championship which will kick off next month.
The times and dates of the opening three rounds of the Championship before Christmas have been confirmed, with a similar points-scoring system as used in the URC. A Championship winner will be declared after the final round of matches in May and the IRFU will be commissioning a legacy trophy to mark the 150th anniversary celebrations.
Welcoming the news, IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys commented:
“We’re delighted to kick-start the Men’s ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship which will provide a host of players with a further means of developing in a meaningful competition. With the success of the Emerging Ireland Tours, coupled with the return of an ‘A’ international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and Club levels with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture windows.
“Discussions have been ongoing for some time to provide players with meaningful games and all four provinces are unanimously supportive of this competition. It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local Clubs.
“It is anticipated that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures won’t clash with Energia All-Ireland League fixtures for the most part, thus potentially also offering players from the Club game with an opportunity to impress.
“This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for Academy players upwards over the coming seasons.”
The dates for the post-Christmas fixtures will be confirmed in due course. Ticket details will be confirmed via the respective provinces.
IRFU 150 Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship Fixtures:
Saturday, 16th November:
Connacht Eagles v Leinster ‘A’ (Creggs RFC, 1pm)
Friday, 22nd November:
Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ballymacaran Park, 3pm), Leinster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (Lakelands, 5pm)
Friday, 29th November:
Munster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (New Ormond Park, 3pm)
Friday, 20th December:
Ulster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (tbc, 3pm)
Saturday, 21st December:
Leinster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ollie Campbell Park, 2pm)
Weekend of 28/29 December:
Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc), Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 9/10 May:
Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc), Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 16/17 May:
Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc), Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
The Emerging Ireland team to face the Cheetahs in the final game of the three-match series in Bloemfontein on Wednesday evening (kick off 6pm Irish time, 7pm local time) has been named.
Leinster’s James Culhane will lead the team and he forms a new back-row alongside Harry Sheridan and Sean Edogbo, who makes his first start of the tour having come on as a replacement in the 29-24 win over Western Force on Sunday afternoon. Former Ireland Under-20 captain Evan O’Connell locks down with Darragh Murray, who featured in the opening 36-24 victory over the Pumas, with Alex Usanov named in the front row alongside hooker Stephen Smyth and Jack Aungier.
Darragh Murray of Emerging Ireland scores his sides second try – Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart
In the backline, Sam Prendergast starts his third game of the tour at out-half and he will be partnered by Cormac Foley, who featured as a second half replacements against the Australian Super Rugby side last time out. Connacht’s Hugh Gavin forms a midfield partnership with Hugh Cooney, with Ulster’s Zac Ward named in an exciting back tree alongside the returning Ben O’Connor at full-back and Andrew Osborne who moves to the right wing.
Munster loosehead prop George Hadden, who was called up to the squad last weekend, is set to make his first appearance after being named on the bench alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka who started Sunday’s win. Hadden’s provincial team-mate Danny Sheahan provides cover once more at hooker, while Scott Wilson and Charlie Tector are also named on the bench for the Toyota Stadium clash alongside out-half Jack Murphy.
Looking ahead to the game, Emerging Ireland Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “When we set out at the beginning of our pre-camp in Dublin, we knew about the challenge of facing three sides in a week and we knew that every player in the group would have the opportunity to play his part. To a man each player has given his all so far and we are aiming to finish off the series with another positive performance on Wednesday.
The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them. It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot. While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times. The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution. We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high.”
Wednesday’s game will be broadcast once more on IrishRugby+ – click here.
Emerging Ireland (v The Cheetahs, Wednesday, October 9, 7pm local time, 6pm Irish time)
15: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
14: Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
13: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12: Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
11: Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)
10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9: Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
1: Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3: Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
4: Evan O’Connell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
6: Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
7: Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
8: James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster) (captain)
Replacements:
16: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
17: George Hadden (Garryowen FC/Munster)
18: Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
19: Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
20: Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
21: Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22: Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
23: Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Following Emerging Ireland’s 29-24 victory over Western Force in Bloemfontein on Sunday three players, Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Munster) and Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster) will return to their provinces.
The trio will leave South Africa on Monday afternoon and will be available for selection for their respective URC fixtures this weekend.
The squad will visit Heidedal Township this afternoon and will conclude the three-match series on Wednesday evening against The Cheetahs (kick off 7pm local, 6pm Irish time). That match will be live on irishrugby+
Watch the full match back here on irishrugby+
Check out the highlights from the win against Western Force below.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
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IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship
