The Waratahs have secured Tatafu Polota-Nau on loan from the Leicester Tigers as a short-term injury replacement.
He will replace Sham Vui, who is currently on the sidelines. While some paperwork is still being finalised with the Tigers, Polota-Nau has arrived in Australia and will begin training with the Waratahs squad immediately.
The international hooker has 142 Super Rugby caps under his belt, having played for both the Waratahs and Westen Force, before being forced to move overseas when the Force were disbanded in a shrinking domestic competition.
He has also racked up 87 appearances for the Wallabies since making an international debut in 2005, and the 33-year-old could use this stint to push his claims for a spot in the World Cup squad later this year.
Coach Daryl Gibson said it was a good outcome for the Sydney-based franchise, particularly in a World Cup year, with it being a win-win for both parties.
“With some of the squad unavailable for selection due to injury, we needed to look at who could immediately slot into the Super Rugby level competition and was a good fit with our squad… Tatafu fits the bill,” said Gibson.
“It’s a win-win for us and Tatafu, who’ll have the opportunity to get game time in front of the Australian coaches and selectors during this World Cup year.”
While how long the loan will last is unclear, the loan comes with six weeks left in the English Premier Rugby season, where the Tigers have lost five of their last six and are all but out of finals contention.
“From a timing perspective it worked well with the Leicester Tigers calendar and we are currently finalising the paperwork.
Gibson also hinted at others getting a run through injuries, leaving the prospects of the former Wallabies hooker getting game time up in the air.
“Guys in our extended squad such as JP Sauni and Andrew Tuala are also training the house down and eager to get their first Super Rugby cap.
“It was great to see them get game time minutes with the Emerging Waratahs on Friday afternoon when they played Auckland A… it all helps them on their way to being ready to step up into Super Rugby,” he said.
The Waratahs are one from two to start the Super Rugby season and take on the Reds coming off a bye in a derby at the Sydney Cricket Ground this Saturday.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He’s been signed as injury cover for Vui and Robertson. There’s no incentive, if one coach wants to disregard their own dwindling prop depth to sign a replacement front rower who is a hooker, they do so at their own risk. But without multiple long term front row injuries, they aren’t able to.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Aren’t they 1 win of Champions Cup qualification though?
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
That’s what I think,l. What is the incentive for a coach to discourage foul play, if he can just call in a test quality replacement for his suspended thug? Very poor.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
'Benefit'. I don't see how filling the team with old fellas who are puffed after 20 minutes on the field is a benefit.
RugbyTragic
Roar Rookie
Funny the Tahs are the one to benefit too!
RugbyTragic
Roar Rookie
How can the cash strapped NSWRU afford the loan fees? I guess supposedly cash strapped RA chairman used his NAB experience to give them a really good deal. Not fair that the ‘Tahs can roll in a replacement of such caliber to cover a foul play suspension as opposed to an injury either.
MitchO
Guest
Maybe not Sheikh. I reckon the Force outfit would look to protect themselves but also seriously respect a young players opportunities for development.
CUW
Roar Rookie
perhaps the coach plans an extended break for Latu beyond his suspension?
CUW
Roar Rookie
TPN got game time coz Tom Youngs had an issue. now that he is back tigers will only need him in the books. they are round 9th with 7 matches to go . as someone said - no chance of glory and no threat of relegation. only issue for them are test players - but mostly among the backs.
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
Can you imagine what Twiggy's price would be for this loan? How about: a) written confirmation that the NSWRU won't stand in the way of a GRR team in either Western Sydney or Newcastle. b) a ludicrous sum of money. c) Clyne has to travel west to apologise in person.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Right now I think the Waratahs could use the best scrummaging no. 2 in the country. He was below his best last year but he was also being pulled back and forth across the world in the middle of the RC which wouldn't do wonders for his energy levels. The next few months will tell if he's past it or just had an off year.
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
That line of thinking will do wonders for development in the Australian Franchises. There must be a point where there is to much experience and becomes a liability. The quatify what i have just said, it's not a good thing having that experince a yard or 2 behind...
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Fair enough. To be honest, I don’t pay much attention to the Waratahs’ props. I’m not particularly interested in the Tahs as a super team, and I am certain that Kepu is the only one prop with even a vague chance of making the Wallabies, so I don’t pay much attention to them for potential Wallabies either. However, I would have thought Gibson and Cron must have had some logic behind their decision to do this.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Shut the site down then...
Phil
Guest
TWAS,I appreciate what you say and it does make sense,but don't you think Gibson and the other coaches at the Tahs would have some idea where Taf would fit into their plans?If not,then the Tahs may as well give up now.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well now that's a player loan proposition that makes sense given their weaknesses.
MitchO
Guest
I wonder if they could borrow someone like Cameron Orr from Twiggy's comp.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He will cover bench hooker despite the fact that they have 2 fit and fully contracted hookers available. Where as at TH prop, they actually have no fit cover right now. One TH gets injured and they do not have 2 fit TH's to fill the 23. Wait and see all you want, that's where they are. And there weakness is that many of the fits props (Walker, Talakai, O'Connor) are weak at SR level, so a good hooker won't help the fact that the props are weak. Then there's the fact that HJH has also regressed. With Latu out, the Waratahs still have as many fit, fully contracted hookers as they have carried across most seasons (3). 2018 was the first year they had ever contracted 4 in total. Amazing how blind fans are unable to do any critical thinking on matters when discussing their team.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I think he’s likely to sure up the Waratahs’ scrum hugely. Interesting ploy going for him rather than a prop, and interesting they don’t trust Sauni yet, but I think it has the capacity to be a very good signing.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
He's certainly the best scrummaging no.2 in the country. He is now nowhere near the best Hooker. His bulloxking runs are gone, his throwing has never been a highlight, and his work ethic around the field is poor. ATM I think he is 5th best, behind all our existing Super Hookers (forget Latu altogether)