Tolu Latu didn’t see a minute of action in the Wallabies’ three June Tests because he wasn’t fit enough, coach Michael Cheika says.
Arguably the most promising young hooker in Australian rugby, Latu was not included in any of the squads for the games against Fiji, Scotland and Italy and has seemingly slid down the pecking order behind captain Stephen Moore and veteran Tatafu Polota-Nau.
The 24-year-old played in four Tests last year but has been warned he won’t get another look in until he starts physically “outshining” Moore and Polota Nau.
“I think Tolu probably got caught in the fitness battle,” said Cheika, who has been on the warpath about how Super Rugby franchises have failed to adequately prepare Wallabies players for the rigours of Test rugby.
“I think that for a young guy coming up, he’s a player we’ve got a lot of regard for.
“We want him to be in the game here for a long time but he got caught out by the fact that as a young player, he needs to be working harder than anybody.
“He needs to be outshining the older guys, physically in particular, because he’s got 10 years on them.
“When he steps up to that plate I’ve got no doubt whatsoever he’ll be able to compete for the No.1 hooker spot.”
Latu has two more regular season matches with the NSW Waratahs, against the Jaguares (home) and Western Force (away), to show Cheika evidence of his improved fitness base.
Cheika, meanwhile, said he will be in contact with Super Rugby coaches to ensure the training workloads for Wallabies are topped up over the coming weeks.
“There’s no doubt that we’ve trained the guys much harder than they would have been used to in their week-to-week. It has an effect,” he said.
“We’ve got to keep them at that level now for another few weeks at their teams and then try and go up again when we get back into camp.”
The Wallabies return to action on August 19 in their Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup opener against New Zealand in Sydney.
Bakkies
Guest
'The shoulders above hips is a safety thing Timbo. Meant to stop players ending up in the staple position with their neck exposed to a wayward cleanout.' and applies to scrummaging and mauling.
Bakkies
Guest
'“fitness” is just a cliche throw away line that clueless people like to use. Our players and teams are inefficient. That means they tire more. No it means they aren't fit enough to perform their role accurately enough. Ever watched Uini Atonio play test Rugby? That bloke is not fit to begin with and struggles to keep up with the play. He is already fatigued after a few minutes which affects his ability to scrummage, hit rucks, carry and tackle (the basis of his role and selection).
Fionn
Guest
Possible. But it's equally possible that their fitness regimes just aren't good enough. I imagine the truth is somewhere in the middle...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The Wallabies and the Super Rugby sides are struggling at the back end of games. And that's exactly what would happen if you are inefficient and ineffective with your involvements. You will tire quicker.
Bakkies
Guest
'No there is no gameplan on the planet that will enable an unfit team to beat the all blacks. ' Exactly. Half the Bok squad failed their June fitness tests in 2015. No wonder they didn't win a game in the 4 Nations (one which was clearly lost in the last 20 when they had the momentum) and couldn't close the game out against Japan.
Bakkies
Guest
Schmidt does that with a lot of his players actually. Paddy Jackson skipped a trip out to the ocean on Ireland's day off to practice his goal kicking by personal choice. Low and behold his kicking off the tee has improved immensely. Australian rugby players on the other hand are out on the town till 4am eating burgers on their day off
Bakkies
Guest
Players can also do extra work outside of training. That's the difference between the top players and the rest
Bakkies
Guest
It goes back to pre season that the players weren't doing enough of the right fitness work. The Wallabies and the Super Rugby sides are struggling at the back end of games.
Bakkies
Guest
Exactly Glenn. Meale and Tuqiri were sent away from Wallaby camp to get fit as they were too out of shape.
Jimbo81
Guest
Yes!
ScottD
Roar Guru
yes
ScottD
Roar Guru
Nothing wrong with what Chieka said. Good on him for calling it. My only criticism is that maybe he should have called another player in to the squad but if so the who?
Two Cents
Guest
Probably fit for French Top 14.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yes TWAS it is a factor. If you compete every 3rd week, you can work hard for 2 weeks and have an easier week leading up to the comp, then repeat on 3-week cycles. However, if you are losing fitness during the season, the s & c staff are doing something wrong. You cannot rely solely on the game for fitness. You can easily do a hard fitness session on Tuesday or Wednesday - enough time for your body to recover from the game, and enough time to recover from the fitness session for the next game. If you're fit, you could do fitness Monday and Wednesday, assuming you're playing on Saturdays. In fact you can do fitness on a Thursday morning and recover for Saturday - if you are overall fit enough. You think running shuttles for hours is how you do fitness? How much do you know about it? I'm sorry TWAS - losing fitness during a season is fundamentally wrong.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
As I noted, people competing in athletics aren't competing weekly. They compete at irregular meets. You don't think this may be a factor? Professional footballers drop conditioning levels over a season. That's a fact of life. That's why pre-season occurs. To build up the base levels adequately to compensate for this. Wednesday is the last day you can do any heavy training if you play on a Saturday. If you play on Friday, then it's Tuesday. Monday will be a light day as you are still recovering from the last game. You will get 1 day of unrestricted training in a normal week. Go watch an All Blacks Tour. I doubt you see them running shuttles for hours during the week.
Bill
Guest
What absolute BS. One of the most talented aggressive hookers we have ever had and this...from the Wobblies coach...play him, grow him, believe in him. And, get rid of Moore.
Jameswm
Guest
Odd? More like very, very odd. Moore moves at snail's pace at the best of times.
Jameswm
Guest
People competing on athletics are smarter at maintaining fitness. Yes you can do fitness whilst playing every week. How can you guys accept losing fitness during a season? It's not right.
Fionn
Guest
I'd say Coleman looks like he's about Dan Vickerman's level, and Kerevi is already the best 13 we've had since Mortlock I think. Either way we have some very good players to build a team around.
sean
Guest
it was plain as day that Moore has old legs and can't run. He is barely jogging. Contrast that against NZ #2. Moore has ok scrummaging and decent thrown. But does that make up for the lack of speed? Latu has been impressive for Tahs' with turnovers almost every game, scrummaging and throws. Cheika is fishing for excuses. Onus is never on the players for fitness. It is on the staff to measure and put in place the fitness required per individual. Inclusive of nutrition. If the player does not follow the recommendations then they get given the boot. Given none are given the boot then its incumbent of the fitness trainers. As for other aspects of the game. 15 Beale 12 Hunt 14 Folau 11 DHP 13 Kerevi 10 Foley 9 Powell or Gordon 8 Jack Dempsey. 7 Hooper 6 McMahon 5 Coleman 4 Arnold 3 Kepu 2 Latu or TPN 1 Alan Aaltola Hodge Koreibette Latu or TPN Hannigan Robertson