All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says Israel Folau's axing by Rugby Australia will be a major loss for the Wallabies ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
Hansen told media today in Auckland that Folau's termination will definitely dent the Wallabies' World Cup ambitions in Japan in September.
"Well they will be different, like he's such a great player and it's disappointing for Australia that this whole thing has happened," said Hansen.
Folau has until 7pm [NZ time] today to appeal against the loss of his lucrative Rugby Australia contract after a three-person panel found last Friday that his controversial social media posts warranted termination.
The 30-year-old last month defied RA warnings following a similar previous incident, posting a biblical quote which said "drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters" would go to hell unless they repented.
"But it has and they will want to move on from that and the rest of us have to move on too.
"When you play Test matches you want to play against the best, but they have some quality players that play at fullback."
Hansen believes Australia has the players to fill the void left by Folau.
"I'm sure they will put in people with similar skills, his skill of high ball, very dangerous on that cross-kick.
"So they'll look to try and replicate that I guess and they have players that can do that."
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