Quade, Rennie to meet as NSW weigh up Latu return

Quade Cooper will meet with Dave Rennie this week as the Wallabies coach prepares to name his squad to take on England, as the Waratahs weigh up whether to throw troubled hooker Tolu Latu a lifeline.

Cooper is expected to be named on Sunday alongside James O’Connor and Noah Lolesio in a 36-player squad, but will break bread with Rennie first after returning from Japan via the US this week.

The 34-year-old came out of nowhere last year to lead Australia to victory in two Tests against the world champion Springboks, but sat out the spring tour under controversial circumstances, along with Samu Kerevi and Sean McMahon.

Cooper returned to Japanese club Kintetsu, where he plays alongside former Wallaby Will Genia, and last month led them to the division two title, winning promotion to Japan’s League One competition.

Cooper and Kerevi have both indicated they want to play against England and in the Rugby Championship, with Kerevi in talks to join the Australian Sevens team at the Commonwealth Games in between those two series. Crucially, their Japanese clubs have also given formal approval.

Winger Marika Koroibete has firmed as Rennie’s third pick under the revised Giteau Law, which allows three overseas picks per series among players who have played 30 or more Tests or given five years’ professional service at home. Koroibete won the League One title with the Robbie Deans-coached Wild Knights last month and has also received the club’s blessing to put his hand up for Wallabies selection.

“We have some really good examples where players have come to the Waratahs under some sort of challenging circumstances.”

NSW chief executive Paul Doorn

Meanwhile, a homecoming for Latu is on the cards, with his old club the Waratahs set to throw the 21-Test hooker a lifeline, subject to board approval.

Latu parted ways with French club Stade Francais last month after a poor season marred by on-field disciplinary issues and off-field drama.

He is serving an 11-week suspension that will rule him out of any Wallabies involvement until September after receiving a red card in what was his last game for Stade.

The athletic but erratic hooker scored six tries in three seasons in France, but also received seven yellows and two reds, developing a name for himself as a liability for the Top 14 club in his final season. During his final weeks there he was singled out for pointed criticism by club owner Hans-Peter Wild, who said the former forklift driver had “spent more time off the field than on it”.

Dave Rennie and Quade Cooper will meet in Queensland this week.Credit: Fairfax Media

Latu is now looking at a return to the Waratahs, a move that received the cautious endorsement of the chief executives of both NSW and Rugby Australia. Waratahs coach Darren Coleman worked with Latu at NSW Country Eagles in the National Rugby Championship and is prepared to give him a second chance.

The move would require the approval of both RA and NSW boards, but seems likely to happen. The Waratahs have hookers Dave Porecki and Mahe Vailanu on their books, but Latu would add international class to the squad.

RA boss Andy Marinos sounded a positive note on the potential return.

“I just think if Tolu Latu wants to come back, that’s the beautiful thing about sport, it’s got a number of redemption stories in it,” Marinos said.

Latu scored six tries in three seasons with Stade Francais, but was also shown seven yellow cards and two reds.Credit: Getty

“He’s obviously had a difficult time overseas and he’s got quite a lengthy ban that he’s coming back with. Is he a talented player? Yes. Can he add value? Absolutely.

“Wherever he decides he’s going to come back and he decides he wants to play, we’ve got to work with them around that reintroduction of him into Australian rugby at a club level. We’ll see how he goes. I’m sure they’ll look at him if he’s putting his hand up.”

NSW boss Paul Doorn said the Waratahs were “a long way away yet” from taking it to the board, but said players deserved second chances. The Waratahs have been doling them out in recent years, with Karmichael Hunt and Izaia Perese both repaying the faith showed in them with big contributions.

“We have some really good examples where players have come to the Waratahs under some sort of challenging circumstances, and to date you have to trust the coach about what they’re trying to achieve, alongside our ability to be able to manage players,” Doorn said.

Also on Monday, the Wallaroos went down 23-10 to the Black Ferns in their opening match of the Pacific Four tournament in Tauranga. Australia led 10-5 at halftime but were swamped two-tries-to-nil in the second half.

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