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JUST how well Israel Folau is mastering rugby at fullback will be measured in a new light this weekend with Benji Marshall stepping into the unknown.
Fellow code-hopper Marshall has earned his first start for the Auckland Blues against the Lions in Johannesburg late Saturday night (Qld time).
It will be a tricky initiation on many levels, not the least being his first taste of kicks sailing prodigious distances in the thinner high-altitude air.
Benji Marshall in action for the Blues. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Limited
You can so easily be caught out of position. The former Kiwi rugby league star had time at fly half during the pre-season but just 15 minutes of airtime during the opening three rounds of Super Rugby.
Coach John Kirwan has wisely elected to let him learn with the major burden of playmaking responsibilities elsewhere.
We are about to find out if Marshall, at 29, is up to it. There'll be mistakes and hesitation as Folau, Wendell Sailor, Sonny Bill Williams and co all found initially in their code switches.
Show some patience and we'll get the true measure of Marshall in May or June.
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The Western Force and Queensland Reds both flopped with their tactics to limit Folau's ball-running and kick-return dynamism earlier this season.
Now, the brains trust at the ACT Brumbies have their chance in Canberra on Saturday night in a must-see clash against the NSW Waratahs.
The Brumbies will pose questions too, especially if they find ways to get Fro Bro Henry Speight into explosive stride from the wing.
The Fijian-born Speight plays his 50th game for the Brumbies on Saturday night and becomes eligible for Wallabies selection on September 11.
The extra feeling to any Brumbies-Waratahs and Reds-Waratahs clash is all-important when Australian rugby needs such feisty drawcards.
***
SPECULATION that the expanded Super Rugby format from 2016 will actually reduce the number of derby games is a bad joke.
Played home-and-away, there is a great square-up appeal to the second spectacle of every series.
To contemplate going back to just one Reds-Waratahs match a year must be fought at every turn. Forget how the Kiwis and South Africans want to reorganise Super Rugby in their interests.
How about the Australian Rugby Union fighting for Australia's best interests?
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