Rugby World Cup: Tatafu Polota-Nau’s cunning plan to get the best out of Wallabies skipper

TATAFU Polota-Nau knows the best thing he can do for the Wallabies is try and oust Stephen Moore. However, there is method to Polota-Nau’s cunning plan.

Australia v Fiji - Group A: Rugby World Cup 2015

TATAFU Polota-Nau knows the best thing he can do for the Wallabies is try and oust the ​leader.

No, the Waratahs hooker is not angling for a job in federal politics.

Rather, as the back-up to Test skipper Stephen Moore, Polota-Nau believes the best way to push both himself and Moore to become better players is to never let Moore’s ​captaincy​ status diminish his desire to wear the Wallabies no.2.

“There’s never a case of him being the Wallaby captain and me being the backup — we’re still competing for that spot,” Polota-Nau said.

VILLA PARK: Quade, Wallabies to make short work of Teros

WALLABIES: Captaincy icing on the cake for Mumm

AMATEUR: Uruguayan blacksmith to face Wallabies

“It just puts a bit more pressure on him to get his set piece right as well. At the end of the day we’re still competing for a spot​, ​ whether or not he’s the captain, we both prepare equally as fierce. Because that’s what we need in terms of surviving the final minutes of each half.

“That’s the great thing about Steve and I, we both know whoever steps up in the 2 position will do the job just as good.”

Captains tend to be picked because they’re considered rusted-on starters but Polota-Nau will still get a chance to put his case forward when he starts his second game for Australia this year on Sunday.

Tatafu Polota-Nau charges onto the ball.

The big no. 2 will meet Uruguay at Villa Park in Birmingham, where he’ll play in an experimental front row with Scott Sio and Toby Smith playing tight head.

Uruguay are ranked no. 19 in the world but after performing well in the set-piece against Wales, Polota-Nau said the Wallabies respect the South Americans’ scrum.

“They were actually unlucky to get a few calls not go their way against the Welsh (scrum),” he said.

“And they’re really putting some heat in the defence. Hopefully we can make sure our attack is on song.”

Polota-Nau’s competition with Moore plays second fiddle to harmony with the skipper, however.

Usually coming off the bench in the crucial final 15-20 minutes, Polota-Nau said they’d trained hard to ensure the set-piece continues to function without a blip.

“That’s why we’re always making sure that regardless of who fills what role, that it runs as smoothly as possible,” he said.

“We try to make it as easy as possible so that we don’t have to go through the thought process too drastically.

“I’m sure we weren’t the best against Fiji (in the line out) ... it is a matter of getting the simple things right.”

Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Tatafu Polota-Nau’s cunning plan to get the best out of Wallabies skipper