Tolu Latu replaces Tatafu Polota-Nau for Wallabies while Benn Robinson could come in for Scott Sio

TOLU Latu is a shock bolter for the Wallabies squad after Tatafu Polota-Nau was ruled out of the opening Bledisloe Cup game with a knee injury.

Waratahs Training Session

TOLU Latu is a shock bolter for the Wallabies squad after Waratahs teammate Tatafu Polota-Nau was ruled out of the opening Bledisloe Cup game with a knee injury.

The Waratahs could further dominate the squad if prop Benn Robinson is recalled for Scott Sio, who suffered what appeared to be a serious ankle injury that left him on crutches during training in Dubbo on Monday.

If Sio is also ruled out, Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie will likely choose between Robinson and Melbourne’s Laurie Weeks for the additional loosehead role in the squad.

Latu, who quit forklift driving at Flemington markets last year to take up his first professional contract, and only debuted in Super Rugby this season for the Waratahs, has capped a meteoric rise with selection in the national squad.

Scott Sio cuts a forlorn figure after injuring his ankle at Wallabies training in Dubbo.

Polota-Nau suffered a medial ligament in the 33-32 final win over the Crusaders last Saturday, and with Stephen Moore already ruled out for the year with a knee injury, Australia possibly had just two fit hookers in their squad; Nathan Charles and James Hanson, resulting in Latu’s stunning call-up.

The 21-year-old Tongan-born Latu was preferred to Saia Faingaa, who has played 29 Tests, the most recent last November in Scotland, but struggled this year at Queensland and lost his starting spot to Hanson.

Latu has shown rapid improvement as back-up to Polota-Nau this season, and was called upon in the final 30 minutes of the gripping final when the Wallaby hobbled off the field.

While his set-piece work still needs work, he is busy around the field and carries powerfully.

Tolu Latu runs the ball at NSW Waratahs training with coach Michael Cheika urging him on.

But Polota-Nau’s injury leaves the Wallabies desperately short of experience in the crucial hooking position, with Charles and Hanson having played just three Tests between them.

McKenzie also warned that while the Waratahs’ Super Rugby title win will give their internationals immense confidence heading into the Bledisloe, the losing Crusaders players like Richie McCaw and Kieran Read will be out for revenge.

“Obviously the Waratah players will take a lot of confidence out of that because it was a great outing, great crowd, a really god thing for rugby,” McKenzie said.

“From that we can take something forward, but we’ve got a different set of circumstances in two weeks, playing different guys.

“And the Crusaders guys will be hurting, they’ll want to get something back.”

Wallabies centre Matt Toomua agreed, citing McCaw’s bitter expression after the defeat last Saturday.

“A guy of his class will use everything to motivate himself,” Toomua said.

“If he won the game, you could probably argue he drew confidence from the fact they won. Players of that class, they’re going to get up for the game, no matter what.

“It would be extra motivation for him, he did look quite dejected. But you see Kieran Read in the press conference, he spoke about them not being happy so I can only imagine it will spur them on.

“But in the same way, I’d rather be coming in from a win than a loss. The Waratahs guys will come in full of positivity and excitement know they did topple a team at ANZ Stadium. That’s only good for us.

“It only helps having teams do well in Super Rugby.

“Internationally, it’s been a while since we’ve beaten the All Blacks. We want the Bledisloe and the [Rugby] Championship as well, so we’ve got a lot to prove in that space.

“You can get excited about having the Waratahs winning it and us making the semis, but there’s still a lot of ground to make up.

“We’ve got to win big games. We failed to beat the All Blacks last year and South Africa as well, and England. They’re the three pinnacle teams, so you’ve got to have good performances against those teams.

Matt Toomua has nominated New Zealand, England and South Africa as the three pinnacle opponents.

“There’s no better way than two All Blacks Tests. There’s no use talking about how positive it is. We’ve got to do it on the park. It’s good we’ve got that base of guys like Bernard [Foley] kicking to win grand finals, the Waratahs winning grand finals and a bit of experience from the Brumbies guys, and there’s the flowover from the Reds championship. There’s definitely the squad there, but we’ve got to be good enough to beat the All Blacks and Springboks.”

Toomua said after 12 months at the helm, McKenzie has shaped a squad brimming with renewed confidence.

“We’ve got that reference point now, and on the back of a few good wins,” Toomua said.

“The squad has hardly changed since the French Tests. That’s a massive thing. Coming in, we’re already talking about things we didn’t have time for (last year) because Ewen was still picking and choosing where he wants players and staff and things like that.

“That consistence can only benefit players’ mindsets. We know how the system works now. We can get down into more specific areas that matter on the field.”

Originally published as Tolu Latu replaces Tatafu Polota-Nau for Wallabies while Benn Robinson could come in for Scott Sio