ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Play-making Virgo Bernard Foley has reportedly been benched for tomorrow’s clash against the Springboks after refusing to shave off his offensive sideburns after coach Michael Cheika instructed him to.
Speaking exclusively to The Advocate a short time ago, a Rugby Australia insider said the floppy-haired five-eighth was given the opportunity to shave them off completely after the Wallabies loss to New Zealand a fortnight ago – but elected to keep his trademark sideburns.
However, the barnstorming Waratah’s relegation has opened the door for one of his New South Welsh teammates.
Kurtley Beale is starting at number 10 tomorrow night in Brisbane for the first time since 2014.
“Because he has no sideburns,” said the insider.
“Michael hates sideburns as much as he hates poor quality textiles. Not as much as he hates people playing out of position, causing a smorgasbord of defensive issues that snowball into New Zealand scoring tires but yeah, he’s certainly not a fan of the old jaw warmers,”
“But it’s just for one game. Who knows what’s going to happen if we lose this one. We might even send Larkham over to Mexico to get stem cells shot into his knees so he can play in next year’s World Cup? We’ve done weirder things than that.”
The Advocate reached out to Rugby Australia for comment but they’d already left for the day.
More to come.
