He’s so good in the air Crusaders coach Scott Robertson believes Israel Folau should “have a job at NASA”.
But on a night where Folau equalled the record for most tries in Super Rugby history, the reality of how few of those 59 tries actually came via kicks prompted the fullback to admit his aerial skill is probably still underused as a tactic.
Folau equalled the all-time try scoring record of former Blues and All Blacks winger Doug Howlett when he touched down late the Tahs’ win over the Crusaders at the SCG.
The try came via a cross kick, albeit in a messy fashion, but Folau had earlier laid on a try for Cam Clark after catching a mid-field highball.
Folau is arguably the best aerial athlete in either rugby code in Australia, and potentially even the world.
But despite it attacking kicks having been his primary source of tries in league, the 15-man game has only seen the same skillset used in fits and starts.
That’s something Folau has often said he’d like to change, and he repeated it on Saturday after a successful "kick it to Izzy" night at the SCG.
"I still think it is (underused),” Folau said.
"Of the 59 tries, you’d be probably lucky to get maybe ten of them from kicks. So it is something I would like to see a lot more, because I am obviously confident in my ability to try and get up and contest for the ball.
"But like I said, with tonight’s match, I am just thankful we were able to get the win. And I will continue to work on those combinations with Bernard and Kurtley, whoever is in the playmaker role and continue to execute."
The Waratahs built a gameplan around using Folau under contestable kicks to apply pressure on the Crusaders and it worked.
It seems crazy most teams with Folau don't do the same but finding a cost-efficient way to score tries via kicks is trickier than it seems.
The Waratahs and Wallabies have occasionally deployed cross kicks near the line but even with Folau as a target, they’re a potentially costly gamble when in prime attacking territory.
Wasting that territory and possession is not an option, and kicks not only have to be spot on to get pay but Folau also has to get a clear runway.
Teams are getting good at dubiously blocking his runway for takeoff, as Ireland showed in the second and third games of the June series last year after Folau made hay in game one.
The more effective strategy, as NSW have found against the Crusaders two years running, is to use midfield bombs where Folau can jump and re-gather forward-moving ball. Indeed, several of his 59 tries have been a catch made at at the 22, and then a run home.
Folau has confidence if he gets a fair chance to jump, he’ll win most contests.
“I just have my eyes are on the ball the whole time,” Folau said of his process.
“Just trying to get up there and compete, making a contest at the ball but obviously I am confident I can get up there and win the ball. I always get excited about those opportunities when they present themselves.”
And what about that job at NASA? How are the maths skills?
"Mate, definitely not. I will just stick to playing footy," Folau said.
By contrast, Howlett was more about pure finishing speed and support play.
Folau said he’d never had the chance to meet Howlett, who scored his 59 tries in 104 appearances for the Blues, Highlanders and Hurricanes, between 1997 and 2007.
"I have never come across him but I remember as a young kid watching clips of him with the All Blacks and obviously he was a great finisher, and someone who obviously scored a lot of tries,” Folau said.
"I wasn’t coming into the game thinking about tries or anything like that. But it’s always a bonus to cross and get a meat pie."
Folau pointed towards the Waratahs’ defence for their “special” victory over the Crusaders but said they needed to guard against complacency with a determined Sunwolves team arriving next week for a clash in Newcastle.
The Waratahs dropped their intensity against the Brumbies after a big win over Queensland the week before, and can’t do the same after snapping the Crusaders’ 19-match winning streak.
"When you are playing the best team in the comp, for a long time, I think any team would step up naturally,” Folau said.
"But the challenge going forward now is not being complacent after that win, and our process are still the same, working hard and making sure we put in a good performance. The Sunwolves are going to be tough. They almost got us over there last time so there’s nothing to take lightly.”
