Michael Cheika confirms Israel Folau will not be selected for Australia
Michael Cheika (in picture) was unhappy about the comments made by Israel Folau
©PA
Australia head coach Michael Cheika slammed Israel Folau for his recent controversial comments and insisted that the full-back will not be selected in the national squad for the World Cup scheduled in Japan later this year.
Folau, who was earlier fined for his anti-gay remarks last year has now landed in huge trouble after he posted on his Instagram account last Wednesday that "Warning. Drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators. Hell awaits you. Repent! Only Jesus saves."
The comments from the 30-year-old copped criticism from all over the world with Rugby Australia and New South Wales Rugby Union even intending to terminate his contract.
Cheika said the opinion of Folau doesn't represent Wallabies' team values and the comments from the 30-year-old were totally uncalled for especially after he received a warning last year for making similar remarks.
“You wouldn’t be able to,” Cheika said when asked whether he’d be able to select Folau again under the circumstances.
“Getting out in that disrespectful manner publicly is not what our team’s about,” Cheika said on Monday.
“When you play in the gold jersey, we represent everyone in Australia – everyone. Everyone that’s out there supporting us. We don’t pick and choose.
“We want everyone on that wagon with us to the World Cup … or a Bledisloe Cup. We want everyone there fighting with us and standing with us.”
The Wallabies boss also revealed that he tried to contact Folau since the news broke out but there was no response yet from the Waratahs full-back.
“We had a discussion at the end of the last time and made it pretty clear about his right to believe and our support in that if that’s what he wants,” he said.
“I felt that I needed to talk to him about why, and I haven’t had that chance as yet. I’m sure I will in the future at some stage when it settles down for him a little bit.
“I made the calls and left the messages. There’s no beef.”
Following the action from Australia and New South Wales board, Folau said he is ready to leave the game for the sake of his faith.
