There’s good news for the Wallabies despite the lose of Tevita Kuridrani – an old favourite is on his way to rejoining the team.
Tatafu Polota-Nau, who was one of the side’s most valuable players in 2017 particular across the Spring Tour, is set to rejoin the Wallabies in time for the first Bledisloe Cup Test.
Polota-Nau missed June’s three-Test series with Ireland as he recovered from a long English summer of rugby, having not been signed by any of Australia’s Super Rugby clubs.
“At this stage we are planning for him to be good to go in the first Bledisloe,” said Australian coach Michael Cheika.
“It will help a lot, and help with our depth, although to be honest I was really happy with our three hookers – Brandon, Tolu and Folau – over the June period.”
Cheika also said that the quality of Australian Super Rugby sides’ performances in 2018 had the Wallabies in a good position to do well in the Rugby Championship.
“Physically they were in better condition and the skill work was good too, if you watch the quality of the derby games in particular, they’ve been excellent in the intensity,” Cheika said.
“Maybe just mentally we didn’t manage the last little bits of important games and also the last little bit maybe of Melbourne’s season. Three opportunities to get in the finals and they just had to nail it, and they weren’t able to. And I suppose thats something we are working on as a whole.”
“From a physical perspective the fitness levels have been much better than what they were last year. It allows us to have much better lead-in to the Test series in June and then again coming now in August.”
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