By Kozzie72
November 16th 2008 @ 7:33am
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Polatu Now?
It is high time that the raging young hooker Tatafu Polatu Nau should be given a starting berth for the Wallabies autumn tests in the U.K.
Polatu Nau is a consistent, hard running modern day hooker who’s lineout issues are like Adam Frier; a thing of the past.
Am I the only one who thinks that the man who made his international debut before playing a second in the super 14 (only himself and a certain George Smith have had this honour in the professional era) should be in the starting team?
If so who holds an issue with his skill set, pace physicality or set piece? Or is Stephen just a ‘moore’ complete player?
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To answer your question, Paul Okon is their coach. He is relatively young...
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Benjamin said | November 16th 2008 @ 8:08am | Report comment
Moore is big, physical and accurate. He’s a superb player. The new Kearns.
Benjamin said | November 16th 2008 @ 8:09am | Report comment
I think Giteau played test rugby before S14 rugby btw.
Ben said | November 16th 2008 @ 9:05am | Report comment
Unfortunately the only way that TPN’s lineout issues could be a thing of the past would be if someone else was given the responsibility of throwing in. He is still woeful unless throwing to the front (and even then isn’t a sure thing), and until he fixes that there’s no way he should be starting other than games against teams with considerably weaker lineout jumpers than us.
Sure he’s physical, a dominant tackler and has surprising pace for a hooker, but he can’t throw to save his life. Moore isn’t too far behind him in the physicality stakes either, is just as good around the park and is light years ahead of TPN when it comes to the lineout, so he’s comfortably our number 1 number 2.
ulysses said | November 16th 2008 @ 10:18am | Report comment
And Moore was man-of-match last night. Hard to see him losing top spot. That said - big ask to start 6 tests (incl Baa-Baas) in 6 weeks in the front row. So TPN may well get a good go.
The difficult reality is that you can practice line out throwing all day and night - but until he does it in a real match the mental scar is there.
But what he should do is move to prop!
Aussie D said | November 16th 2008 @ 11:12am | Report comment
On what basis do you select him? Because he can run around the field like a back? As others have mentioned his lineout throwing is attrocious. It is like picking a prop because he gets around the field really well. One fo the things that hasn’t really been mentioned about the Deans’ era so far is that he has been picking players who do their core jobs well first and foremost. We now have props who can scrummage, locks who push in the scrums and work hard in the tight and hookers who find their mark at lineout time. What a wonderful difference it made to our pack last night. Now all we need is our over-rated backs to step up and we’ll be the world’s best again.
craig said | November 16th 2008 @ 11:40am | Report comment
Polatu -NO!
OldManEmu said | November 16th 2008 @ 12:40pm | Report comment
Sorry Old Boy - TPN - good physical specimen but that is about it - his game has failed to mature and he reallyis lucky to be on this tour. His lineout throwing is terrible and this is unforgivable at International level. Cant agreewithyou at all on this one.
Stephen Moore has developed into a very good player. He does not quite have Phil kearnsinstinct for the game,but kearnsy was a once in a generation player, so saying Moore is not as good as kearns was is still high praise.
Davo said | November 16th 2008 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
I’m a massive fan of TPN ever since he had to cut the sides of his Waraths shorts to fit the largest pair they had over his thighs. But alas the lineout throwing is not a thing of the past and has been relevant in all his recent appearances. I would say in his defence, often when we he has had a bad lineout day, the other hooker in the squad on the day, be it Moore, Freir etc have not done much better but I think TPN’s future is an impact player who can cover hooker, prop and even as a hard running impact backrower.
Was never a fan of Moore ( too many appearances in mediocre Qld packs probably ) until this year when he has been consistently outstanding. The way he is playing at present wouldn’t matter if you had TPN, Kearns, Keith Wood or Sean Fitzpatrick in your squad, it would be hard to drop Moore.
tarpo said | November 16th 2008 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
TPNs throwing is in the past, yes if you accept his last game as the past! He should sharpen up his scrummaging as a prop.
If not, go back to the backrow. Picked on potential, hasn’t delivered.
Harry said | November 16th 2008 @ 2:21pm | Report comment
Still worth persisting with in the test squad but clearly behind Moore now. Still young and needs to start a season at S14 for NSW to mature into the player we all hope he is capable off.
mudskipper said | November 16th 2008 @ 4:20pm | Report comment
Stephen moore is only getting better, TPN has to do a lot more to win the starting wallabies hooker jersey…
LeftArmSpinner said | November 16th 2008 @ 5:43pm | Report comment
Kozzie, he is as accurate a lineout thrower as Michael Hussey is as a bowler!!!! Basic skills are essential. Until he can dramatcially improve his accuracy, he doesnt have a hope of even starting for the Tahs, subject to injuries of course. Moore was great too so he’s a long way off.
Frank O'Keeffe said | November 16th 2008 @ 6:40pm | Report comment
TPN is a very good scrummagger, and his work around the ground is terrific, but his line-out throwing is horrible.
Stephen Moore has been playing very well and is getting better, so he deserves to be in the side.
However, TPN is related to The Rock - maybe if he gets a chance he can be the most electrifying man in rugby union.
swifty said | November 16th 2008 @ 8:22pm | Report comment
this sounds almost as smart as ‘its tahu time’
LeftArmSpinner said | November 16th 2008 @ 8:48pm | Report comment
swifty, Its Still Tahu Time, but just taking more time due to injuries. Having said that, these injuries may see the premature end to a career. lets hope not. I for one, would like to see him at full throttle.
JonnyP said | November 16th 2008 @ 8:58pm | Report comment
I may be a bit naive here but if his throwing is so terrible couldn’t he just spend a couple of hours a day just practising throws and surely within a few weeks/months be an amazing thrower??. It just strikes me that if you were to take a man in the street and launch him into an international test match he’d be battered but there’s a good chance he’d be able to lob the ball in from the sideline with reasonable accuracy.
Homer said | November 17th 2008 @ 8:15am | Report comment
I am a massive fan of TPN but his throwing is horrible and Moore has hit his prime and is now a leading hooker around the world.
The problem in Australia is that no one is coming through. The Force have a pensioner (Mcaaisac) and a never will be in Holmes.
The tahs have another ‘past his used by date’ hooker in Frier and QLD has a pensioner and Faainga who may never be wallaby material. I hope the U21’s hookers are promising.
PNT should move to prop like John Smit.
mudskipper said | November 17th 2008 @ 2:49pm | Report comment
TPN will get better after another S14. He was the second hooker for Tahs and is really lucky to be there, he is a future player. Whats impressive about Moore is not only his improved set piece work in the last year but his aggression level has increased. Something the Wallabies pack have been lacking in recent years.
Personally I’m pleased he is joining he Brumbies pack next season…looks good for the wild horses in 2009…
Harry said | November 17th 2008 @ 2:59pm | Report comment
IF Aus defeat France this weekend, suspect Deans may well give TPN another start against the Welsh in the last test. We know he’s a good scrummager and potentailly awesome around the field, and i don’t think he’s all that far off with the throwing. No doubt missing Vickerman, needs to find his combinations better. That said, I watched closely him and Moore warm up in the HK test and Moore was definetely more precise, even without the pressure of a game. So he needs to keep working at it …