The rapid rise of Bernard Foley

Bernard Foley was a revelation for the Waratahs this year. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

THIS man could be Ewen McKenzie's perfect 10 for the 2015 World Cup, and the rapid rise of Bernard Foley can be traced back to a phone call two years ago that changed everything.

With the attacking incisiveness of Quade Cooper and reliable defence of Matt Toomua, Foley hops on the plane for his first Wallabies tour on Monday. Yet as recently as 2011 he believed he would be a Sevens specialist.

He'd won a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and was captain of the Australian Sevens team, when he received a call from then Waratahs assistant Scott Bowen prior to NSW's 2011 Super Rugby elimination final in Auckland.

"He said 'You're flying to Auckland, we need you for the final'," Foley said.

"I hadn't played much XVs for two years before that."

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But once he entered that Eden Park dressing room alongside Phil Waugh, Tom Carter, Kurtley Beale and Ryan Cross, there was no second-guessing his future.

"A few words those guys said before and after the game really lit the fire," Foley said.

"I remember sitting there in awe of their passion.

"We didn't get the job done, but for me it ignited something.

"I only got eight or 10 minutes on the field, but looking back, that was the turning point. I got the drive.

"I knew then I wanted to make a real go of XVs."

And how.

Looking at Foley's statistics in his first year as a first-choice five-eighth in Super Rugby, he dominated Cooper and Toomua in vital areas.

Under the Waratahs' attack-based game plan Foley led the competition for try assists and line-break assists up to the finals.

This alone does not warrant his inclusion in the Wallabies side ahead of incumbents Cooper and Toomua, who have both shown glimpses of brilliance this Test season.

But Foley continues to provide Wallabies coach McKenzie with an alternative option for the looming Tests against South Africa and Argentina, having developed his skills throughout the year, impressing during Australia's practice sessions, and leading Sydney University to the Shute Shield premiership with outstanding poise in the semi-final and grand final.

Foley recognises the step up to the international arena will be grand, but readily accepts the pressure.

"It is driving me to be a better player, hopefully to get an opportunity to finally wear that gold jersey," he said.

"Whether it is on this trip, or later down the road, I will be grateful to get the opportunity.

"Growing up as a kid it is something I always aspired to, in the backyard with my brothers and sisters, lots of touch footy games at lunchtimes, and now to be so close is very exciting.

"But in saying that, it has been a dream for a long time so when I get that opportunity I want to be ready and take it with both hands."

The reason he walked away from the assured prospect of competing at an Olympic Games is the global event that falls a year earlier.

"We're two years away from the World Cup, hopefully with another couple of Super Rugby seasons and hopefully some Wallabies experience it can put you in good stead for building this group forward at the World Cup," Foley said.

"To get an opportunity to play in a World Cup would be pretty exciting, just to be involved with this squad.

"With the depth and youth here at the moment, in another two years it could be very exciting times."

But as much as Foley has dedicated himself to the XVs cause, he has not given up all hope of going to Rio.

"Even through school and colts, I honestly didn't believe I could make a living from rugby," he said.

"I got that first opportunity through Sevens, and with a couple of good teammates we really pushed ourselves, we saw this as a pathway to being a professional rugby player.

"It taught me what needs to be done, how I need to train to push myself.

"I still think about 2016 now, in the back of my mind, the opportunity to go to the Olympics and be part of the Australian team and win one of the most valuable things that a sportsman can win – a gold medal.

"It was always a dream for me to establish myself as a XVs player, but Sevens made me what I am today."

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