Waratahs’ season on the line against in-form Jaguares

Suspended Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu was back at training on Thursday, not to prepare for Saturday night’s match but to apologise to his teammates.

Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu has apologised to his teammates over his drink driving charge. Picture: AAP

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Suspended Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu was back at training on Thursday, not to prepare for Saturday night’s match but to apologise to his teammates.

With the Waratahs in a desperate fight to make the playoffs, Latu’s back in the doghouse after being stood for the next two matches after being arrested and charged for allegedly drink driving.

It’s rotten timing for the Tahs, who could have used his physical presence in Saturday night’s clash with the Jaguares at Bankwest Stadium, so he fronted the team to say sorry.

“He is very apologetic for his behaviour and what that has caused not only to him and his family but to the team,” NSW coach Daryl Gibson said. “He made a very heartfelt apology this morning which was nice.”

Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu has apologised to his teammates over his drink driving charge. Picture: Mark Evans

Andrew Tuala will take Latu’s place on the bench, alongside Jed Holloway, who returns to the side after copping a three week holiday for elbowing an opponent in the head last month.

“He was very remorseful and disappointed that his actions had on the team,” Gibson said.

“That’s tough to live with as a player but three weeks off has served him well.”

Sitting third in the Australian conference standings with just four games to, the Waratahs can’t afford any more brain snaps if they want to make the finals.

Without Israel Folau, they are struggling to score tries and have developed a nasty habit of falling just short in close games so Gibson is gambling on a settled side solving their woes.

He’s stuck with the same starting XV that knocked off the Reds last week but is running out of time to give his Wallabies a week off, as part of the agreement to keep players fresh for the World Cup.

“We are in the fight for our lives in terms of staying alive in the comp and the conference. This game is incredibly important and we need to pick our best side,” he said.

“We haven’t thrown it away. We are very mindful (of the agreement).

Andrew Tuala comes onto the Waratahs bench in place of the suspended Latu. Picture: Mosman Daily

“But we also need to be in a position to stay alive in the competition. First and foremost I want to be able to give the team the opportunity to do that and we see that through picking our strongest side.”

The Waratahs will have to be at their best to topple the in-form Jaguares for the first time.

They’ve only squared off twice before with the Argentines winning both times and the South Americans are the form team of the competition, winning five of their past six matches, including last week’s upset of the Hurricanes.

“The Jags for me are a top two side, they’re a very good side,” Gibson said.

“Last year in Buenos Aires we made a lot of errors and went 30 behind in the first half, so we know we can’t commit that same ill-discipline with ball in hand. We know they are very organised this year defensively.

“They are the number two side defensively and very hard to break down. The lateral stuff we played against the Reds won’t work against this team.”