Super Rugby: NSW Waratahs give hooker Tolu Latu a late Wallabies leg-up
TOLU Latu has a chance for a late run at Wallabies selection in June after the hooker was recalled to the Waratahs’ bench for their clash with the Highlanders.
Waratahs
Don't miss out on the headlines from Waratahs. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Mount Druitt boy Beale wants to help save rugby in western Sydney
- Kurtley Beale shows up Kiwi rivals with honourable act
TOLU Latu has a chance for a late run at Wallabies selection in June after the hooker was recalled to the Waratahs’ bench for their clash with the Highlanders on Saturday at Allianz Stadium.
The selection of Latu, who has played only one Super Rugby game this year against the Jaguares in round three, came as NSW coach Daryl Gibson also reinstated Jake Gordon over Nick Phipps as starting halfback, and promoted Tom Staniforth to the starting team to replace an injured Ned Hanigan.
Ryan McCauley joins the bench but the Waratahs are otherwise unchanged for what will be a pivotal clash for the side, as far as their Super Rugby credentials go.
After two narrow losses to the Blues and Crusaders, the Tahs know they must take the next step at home and win — not just to snap the Kiwi hoodoo, but to prove they have the capacity to be competitive in the finals if they win the Aussie conference.
Latu’s return adds an extra dimension as far the Wallabies go, however.
Hooker is a major problem for Australia in June against Ireland, with Stephen Moore retired and Tatafu Polota-Nau playing in England.
Latu, who has four caps for the Wallabies, was seen by Michael Cheika as one potential replacement but, stuck behind Damien Fitzpatrick and the hugely underrated Hugh Roach at NSW, the 25-year-old has been playing club rugby.
He was given a chance in the Tahs’ heavy loss to the Jaguares in Buenos Aires but was dropped again the next week.
Waratahs forwards coach Simon Cron said Latu’s throwing was the major issue so they’ve made him throw 200-plus balls a day at Tahs training, as well as working on fitness.
“He’s had four 80-minute games at Sydney Uni,” Gibson explained
“Part of his reintroduction is around we feel he is doing the necessary work, he’s doing his throwing and he’s played consistently. We have been pretty consistent with Roach and Fitzpatrick so we feel this an opportunity for him to contribute and show what he can do.”
With solid form, Latu will be in the mix for June with Jordan Uelese, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Fitzpatrick, Anaru Rangi and Folau Faingaa.
“There is an opportunity there isn’t there. I am not sure what Cheik’s thoughts are but every hooker in the country would know there’s an opportunity there, if you play well, you could potentially get that call. It is a good incentive for them,” Gibson said.
Though Phipps has been a strong addition to the team when playing in the past two weeks, Gibson said the rotation back to Gordon was a plan they were sticking to.
“I talked really clearly at the start of this four-game block against New Zealand teams that that was what we are going to do, and we’ll continue that. So that means Nick will come back in with us next week,” he said.
Hanigan is expected to miss between “four and six” weeks with a knee injury and, in a dose of good news, Gibson said Jack Dempsey is also making good progress after a long and tortuous rehab following surgery on his hamstring tendon.
“It’s still a long way for him but it’s a really good move for him that he’s showing progress in being able to rejoin parts of training,” Gibson said.
“We are not holding on to that hope (of Dempsey playing this season). It’s more about him getting back to full fitness.”
LIVE stream the 2018 Super Rugby Season on FOX SPORTS. Get your free 2-week Foxtel Now trial & start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW >
Originally published as Super Rugby: NSW Waratahs give hooker Tolu Latu a late Wallabies leg-up
Riot act saved Tahs but proves Super Rugby’s ‘fundamental flaw’
Waratahs coach Dan McKellar was forced to bring out the old school system to rev up his repeatedly lacklustre team over the Western Force. But in doing so, the riot act has proven Super Rugby’s ‘fundamental flaw.’
Attitude problem? Tahs need to identify issues amid failed season
For the Waratahs to turn their fortunes around, they’ve first got to work out what exactly is going wrong and first-season coach Dan McKellar has hinted at a bubbling issue.