NSW Waratah Israel Folau finals shows rugby pedigree in Western Force win Israel Folau finally shows his rugby skills in the Waratahs' Super win over Western Force at Allianz Stadium, Moore Park, Sydney. NICE to meet you, Israel Folau, rugby player. It may have taken six games, but there is no doubting the rugby pedigree in the former NRL and AFL star now. Folau looked more at ease with a Gilbert in hand yesterday than he ever has, producing his finest match in the 15-man code against Western Force. But it was as much what Folau didn't do as he did at Allianz Stadium. Gone were the frailties of his inexperience. Missing was the hesitancy in the tackle, at the breakdown, and when the ball was to be cleared by boot. Where last week he botched a try by overlooking his support player, yesterday he was comfortable throwing a no-look pop to an expectant teammate. Where earlier this season Folau struggled with his timing on the ball, yesterday he was dynamic with each touch and punched holes in the Force defence. Folau also showed an adept long passing game while his work in the air, as usual, was exemplary. This is exactly the type of performance Wallabies coach Robbie Deans had hoped to see from the new recruit. With Brumbies fullback Jesse Mogg mounting enormous pressure on the incumbent Wallabies back three with spectacular performances to start the year, Folau must continue in this vein of form if he hopes to secure a shock place against the British and Irish Lions in two months. Folau, like Mogg, is X-factor with the ball. Man-on-man he wins nearly every time. As Jason Robinson said last Saturday, Folau's ignorance of Lions history, tradition, and their current crop of players would work in his favour, like it did the former Great Britain league international the last time the Lions toured Australia. As Folau has shown previously in his amazing league career, the big games on the big stages don't weaken his knees. Grand finals, State of Origins and trans-Tasman clashes were his domain to shine. Deans will note that Folau's psyche will not be the issue should he pick him. It is Folau's unfamiliarity with the game at Test match level, where space can be as constricted as a python's grip, and opportunities to run can be camouflaged quicksand. We will discover in coming weeks if Folau can adjust to these restrictions as the competition table takes more meaningful shape and the consequences of results more obvious. There were a couple of turnovers at the breakdown by Folau yesterday, but those were due more to a lack of support from teammates. What resonated was Folau's presence each time he had the ball or ran in the play. He is quick, hard to handle, tricky on his feet, with pace to burn. When Test matches boil down to one or two opportunities, this sort of talent is often the difference.