Israel Folau has revealed the secret behind his spectacular try-scoring form as he hunts yet more five-pointers in the Wallabies' Rugby Championship closer against the Pumas in Argentina.
The superstar code-hopper needs six more strikes in Australia's last six Tests of 2017 to equal rugby's world record for most tries in a calendar year.
But, surprisingly, he insists bagging tries is not in his game plan.
"To be honest, I go into a game not thinking about scoring tries and I think that's the key," Folau said after coach Michael Cheika named an unchanged starting side for the first time in his three years at the helm.
"Once you go into a game thinking about tries, you're not thinking about your role as a player for the team.
"So I'm just really enjoying the ride and the journey at the moment and I'm looking forward to another opportunity at the weekend."
With his 11th try of the year coming in last week's 27-27 draw with South Africa in Bloemfontein, the fullback eclipsed his one-time Queensland State of Origin rugby league teammate Lote Tuqiri's Australian record for most five-pointers in a single season.
"I'm sure I'll speak to Lote at some stage when I get back home. He's someone I definitely looked up to from a young age," Folau said.
"I just feel honoured and privileged to get the opportunity to score tries.
"But I just give credit to the guys on the inside for providing those opportunities. I'm just lucky to be on the end of the play to be able to go over and score tries."
Folau's 11 tries in 2017 have come in only eight Tests - including an unprecedented hat-trick of braces against Fiji, Scotland and Italy.
With a strike rate of more than one try a Test, the 29-year-old is on pace to beat the current world record of 17 shared by Japanese flyer Daisuke Ohata (2002) and former New Zealand winger Joe Rokocoko (2003).
If he remains injury-free, Folau will get the chance to set a new benchmark on the upcoming spring tour of Japan and Europe following Sunday's clash with the Pumas in Mendoza and the last Bledisloe Cup match of the year against New Zealand in Brisbane in a fortnight.
Share
