Poupou Escobar
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He finished 2015 strongly. Why would we have thought he would fall to pieces?
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He finished 2015 strongly. Why would we have thought he would fall to pieces?
Firstly, my daughter who hasn’t even started preschool yet is a chance to get called up to the useless wallabies.Sounds like this merkin is the next Ponga.
The 'next Folau' tipped to become a Wallaby before leaving school
GEORGINA ROBINSON SEPTEMBER 20, 2018He is the 15-year-old fullback they are calling the 'next Israel Folau', who shook like a leaf when he met his namesake this year and could be a Wallaby before he finishes school.
His name is Joseph Suaalii and he is at the heart of a push by Rugby Australia to sew up their best young talent and fight off suitors from other codes.
The next Izzy? Joseph Sauulii steps out for the GPS 1st XV
Photo: Paul Seiser/SPA Images
The Kings College fullback, who lit up the GPS competition this year, is only in Year 9 but is already the same height as Folau and has rugby recruiters dreaming he could eclipse the dual international given he is in the rugby system earlier.
Suaalii grew up playing rugby league in Penrith but had started rugby, AFL, basketball and athletics by the age of 11 and as a Regentville Public School Year 6 student made an astonishing four NSW PSSA teams at the same time.
He played in the Harold Matthews Cup for South Sydney u18s this year and is also interested in basketball, but RA believes if he sticks with rugby he is a real chance of eclipsing James O'Connor as the youngest ever Wallabies debutant in the professional era (O'Connor was 18).
How they will make that happen is becoming clearer after a major overhaul of the Super Rugby academies. Players as young as 15 will be aligned with academy programs designed to complement their school and club duties, with a view to playing in a new Under-19 Rugby Championship (URC). The Cauliflower understands RA will also use scholarships to keep promising school-leavers in the rugby system as their bodies and skills develop.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has played a big role in helping RA keep their top talent close, addressing a group of 20 NSW Schoolboys earlier at Allianz Stadium this year and telling them his "greatest dream" was to sit in the stands in coming years and watch them play top flight rugby.
Cheika also met with Suaalii and brought along the 15-year-old's idol, Folau. A source told The Cauliflower that despite the fact Suaalii is already big enough to look the decorated fullback in the eye, the youngster shook like a leaf.
Suaalii is just one of the schoolboy talents Rugby Australia is keeping tabs on. Year 12 students Will Harris (Scots) and Angus Bell (Newington) have all been retained in rugby despite big interest from NRL clubs. The pair were among RA and the Waratahs' top two schoolboy targets this year.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...by-before-leaving-school-20180920-p504zd.html
If our club was on the ball, they would have already bought his family a house and paid for his private school education.
Yes mate. Following current trends, the Wobblies should be below Russia, Malta and that unnamed pacific atol with a population of 78 within a few months.
Sounds spiffing old chap, pass the cucumber sandwiches.
My point is they were all fullback options ... same as us - yet we somehow f**ked up
Plenty of fullbacks can play other positions. Just not French.
It is rumoured that Taupau is signed but I won't be holding my breath waiting for this to be announced - if true. However he is the type of player we need. And if true if he can install the same aggression into our younger players coming thru it'll hold them in good stead going forward.
