Coach wowed by Tah’s statement in Super homecoming
Murray Wenzel |
When Folau Fainga’a chatted to Dan McKellar about a return to Australian rugby, he knew what he was in for.
The former Brumbies hooker, with a World Cup and 38 Test caps to his name, had plenty asked of him at McKellar’s rebuilding NSW Waratahs.
“And I can honestly say it’s the best shape he’s ever been in,” the coach told AAP after Fainga’a’s 30-minute cameo in their 49-19 Ballymore drubbing of the Queensland Reds on Saturday.
“He’s come back from France in really good nick, earnt the respect of a new group and has turned into a leader now, ‘Lau.”
A decade ago Fainga’a was a standout junior, but sixth at best in the Waratahs’ hooker pecking order, led by Tatafu Polota-Nau and Tolu Latu.
That prompted him to seek out the Brumbies, where McKellar gave Fainga’a a 2018 debut that quickly shot him into a Wallabies jersey.
He played a season with the Western Force in 2023 before a Top 14 move to Clermont Auvergne.
The 30-year-old’s back in Sydney to fill the hooking leadership void left by the retired David Porecki and relaunch his Test case ahead of next year’s World Cup.
“He knows what to expect from our pre-seasons and how we want to play the game and the reality is, you have to be fit and he turned up fit and in a position to get better,” McKellar said.
McKellar has recruited sagely, adding fellow French-based Wallaby Pete Samu, Test winger Harry Potter and lock Matt Philip from the Force, experienced Brumbies playmaker Jack Debreczeni, Reds lock Angus Blyth and out-of-favour Crusaders hooker Ioane Moananu to flesh out his squad.
Samu, Potter, Fainga’a, Debreczeni and Philip all had to move from Sydney to get their first Super Rugby shot.
Philip’s now back home from the Western Force and will captain a team that also boasts Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and will add his former Sydney Roosters NRL teammate Angus Crichton next season.
“We’ve got a good group who want to work hard for each other and try to do something together in a Waratahs jersey,” McKellar said.
Having just beaten them, McKellar was quick to mention Les Kiss’s promotion from Reds coach to Wallabies coach later this year.
“There’s plenty going on … a new Wallabies coach and there’s plenty of reasons to play good rugby and get reward off the back of it.
“The 2027 World Cup will be here before we know it.”
The Waratahs will play Queensland in round one, with the Reds keen to redeem themselves next Friday.
“They probably played us off the park in quite a few areas,” Kiss said.
“The boys are thoroughly disappointed. We’re not about the result but some of the things out there won’t cut it in Super Rugby.”
AAP
