Wallaby role beckons
Selection for Tahs may lead to much more
RUGBY UNION: Tolu Latu has a chance for a late run at Wallaby selection in June after being recalled to the Waratahs’ bench for their clash against the Highlanders on Saturday at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.
The selection of hooker 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 the injured Ned Hanigan.
Ryan McCauley joins the bench but the Tahs are otherwise unchanged for what is 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, however, adds an extra dimension as far the Wallabies go.
Hooker shapes as a major problem for Australia in June against Ireland, with Stephen Moore retired and Tatafu Polota-Nau playing in England.
Capped four times for the Wallabies, Latu was seen by national coach Michael Cheika as one potential replacement, but the 25-year-old has been playing club rugby – stuck behind Damien Fitzpatrick and the hugely underrated Hugh Roach at NSW.
Latu was given a chance when the Tahs’ lost 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 had made him throw 200plus balls a day at Tahs training, as well as working on fitness.
“He’s had four 80-minute games at Sydney Uni,” Gibson said.
“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 is 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?” Gibson said.
“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.
Though Phipps was 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.