VIDEO: Folau calls for 'clarity' around aerial contest
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies and Waratahs fullback Israel Folau urged World Rugby to provide a ‘bit more clarity’ around the aerial contest.
Folau was forced to watch the Waratahs’ 31-26 win over the Rebels from the sidelines after he was handed a one-match ban for a mid-air challenge with Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony in the ninth minute of Australia’s third Test match with Ireland in Sydney a fortnight ago.
The warning, effectively an off-field yellow card, came after Folau was issued a yellow card earlier in the game.
In both instances, he was found guilty of a dangerous air tackle against an Irish opponent.
The two yellow cards, in the same game, amounted to a red card and an automatic hearing – where he was issued with the one-match ban.
Despite the one-match ban, the fullback has revealed he would not modify his aerial technique and has urged World Rugby to shed more light on the law.
“For me personally it won’t change the way our approach the ball in the air,” Folau told reporters.
“I think for myself, I feel it’s a strength of mine so there’s nothing to change around the technique and all that.
“I’ll still keep attacking the ball the way I do.
“Like I said, from my end going forward I’d like to see a little bit more clarity within that particular area of the game, not only for myself but others players are involved in those aerial contests. I think it’s vital and very important,”
“From my point of view, it won’t change anything around my game I will keep being persistent in the way I attack the ball in the air and obviously do it in a way that’s is fair and clean,”
Nonetheless, the fullback is fully aware of the potential dangers involved when you try to gain possession in the air.
“[Whether you use hands or arms] that’s the argument, that from my point of view when you are going up for a high ball, everything is judged on the flight of the ball in the air and decisions change in the air.
“So when you are going for a one-hand tap back, the other hand is obviously going to be placed in a position where it’s trying to counter-balance your hand that’s tapping back, so it’s a natural movement.
“Everyone understands, when you go into a contest in the air, you are going to make contact with the opposing player,” Folau said.
“It’s not going to be always clean in the sense that there won’t be any contact, but I understand the dangers of being in the air.
“The last thing you want for yourself or for the opposing player is for anyone to get any serious injury,”
“However, there has to be a responsibility for the player that’s lifting his teammate up to bring him down safely.
“It’s a thing for World Rugby in terms of the clarification in that particular area of the game where they’ve got to clear it up and hopefully they can do that sooner rather than later.”
After serving his one-match ban, Folau will be available for the Waratahs’ Super Rugby fixture against Sunwolves on Saturday at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
The Waratahs, who currently sit at the top of the Australian conference with 39 points from 14 games, will be desperate to secure a win especially with the last round-robin match against third-place Brumbies on July 14.
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