Dave Rennie has called on former forklift driver Tolu Latu to do some heavy lifting in the absence of injured skipper Michael Hooper in one of four changes to the Wallabies team to face Wales on Sunday (AEDT).
Latu, who did 18 months on a midnight to 11am shift at Flemington Markets when he was trying to break into pro rugby, will start at hooker against Wales after playing his first match for the Wallabies since the 2019 World Cup last week, receiving a call under the relaxation of the Giteau Law this year.
Rennie said he was keen to see more of Latu, who plays in France with Stade Francais.
“He had a bit of a cameo last week,” Rennie told reporters late Thursday. “He’s trained really well, he’s got his head around things.
“We think he’ll give us a bit of an edge physically, particularly with Hoops not playing, having an on-ball presence at No.2 will complement what Pete Samu can give us.”
WALES BOOSTED BY RETURNING DUO
Waratahs centre Lalakai Foketi is set for a Wallabies debut while winger Filipo Daugunu, who broke his arm minutes into the deciding Test against France, returns for Australia’s final Test of 2021.
Foketi replaces Tahs teammate Izaia Perese in the matchday 23, while Tom Wright moves to the bench to accommodate the return of Daugunu.
Rennie is also boosted by the returns of tightheads Taniela Tupou, who starts, and replacement Allan Alaalatoa, who both missed the loss to England last week due to concusssion suffered against Scotland.
After five straight wins, Rennie’s team has suffered back to back losses against the Scots and English, but should be a strong chance of wrapping up the year with a win against a Welsh team battered by injuries and absentees.
: Lalakai Foketi (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
Their long list of missing players includes British and Irish Lions Alun Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Ross Moriarty, Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Josh Navidi and George North.
Prop WillGriff John and lock Will Rowlands have been released back to their clubs after suffering head knocks, while Tomas Francis (concussion), Josh Adams (calf) and Aaron Wainwright (shoulder) remain under assessment.
Coach Wayne Pivac has used close to 40 players across Tests against New Zealand, South Africa and Fiji so far.
The Wallabies have also had to contend with similar problems, missing their three Japan based stars, and with captain Michael Hooper sidelined with a foot injury.
James Slipper will captain the team.
Hooper is replaced by Pete Samu at openside flanker with Rob Leota and no.8 Rob Valetini making up the loose forwards.
“We’ve picked Pete for a reason,” said Rennie. “He has obviously been covering seven, so he’s more than equipped to do the job. He’s played a bit of seven in the past. He’s just got a different game.
“He does have post tackle presence, it’s not as obvious as Hoops, but he does give you an athletic edge. We’re really excited about having Pete there and we just want him to go out and play his game, not try to emulate Hoops.”
Valetini is one of just three players to be picked in every Test this year, alongside Slipper and outside centre Len Ikitau.
Rory Arnold and Izack Rodda will continue their lock partnership for a third straight Test.
Will Skelton has been named as the replacement lock for the third straight week, with Lachlan Swinton recalled as the backrow cover.
“Rods runs our lineout, so he’s an important cog in that,” said Rennie in explaining why he kept the same approach to his locks.
“I think those guys are getting better and better, they’ve got their head around what we’re doing, certainly have presence on the field and the frustrating thing about last week was we just couldn’t hang onto the ball long enough to utilise Will to carry and give us so go-forward.”
He said he thought Skelton was more effective from the bench.
“When I was coaching over here, Saracens consistently used him off the bench,” said the former Glasgow coach. “He’d come in with 20-25 to go and have a massive impact in the game. That was always our thinking.”
Brumbies No.10 Noah Lolesio and London Irish prop Ollie Hoskins have come out of the matchday squad after brief cameos against England.
Talking on Lolesio’s demotion, Rennie said: “It’s a balance of the bench. We were keen to have a specialist midfield cover, Lalakai’s been excellent, made massive shifts and we’ve often talked about him around a position on the bench but based on what we needed to backup the starting group it hasn’t worked out for him.
“He’s been really good and gives us a genuine midfield cover, we feel Tom can cover our back three and we’ve got Kurtley who has now been with the group for a long time and we’re confident he can jump in at 10 and run the ship.
Rennie added: “It’s great to have Taniela and Allan back in the mix this week, they bring a level of experience that will be key for us against a tough Welsh team,” said Rennie.
“Slips is hugely respected in our mob and a strong contributor to our leadership group. He was the obvious choice to lead us in the absence of Hoops.
“Lalakai has been with the squad all year and worked extremely hard to earn his first International opportunity in what’s a proud moment for him and his family.
“We’ve made some great shifts this year, but we’ve been disappointed with our performances in the last two Tests and we’ll be looking to ensure we finish the year on a positive note against Wales on Saturday night.”
Wallabies team to play Wales at Principality Stadium, Cardiff on Sunday at 4:30am AEDT.
1. James Slipper (c) (113 Tests)
2. Tolu Latu (20 Tests)
3. Taniela Tupou (37 Tests)
4. Rory Arnold (28 Tests)
5. Izack Rodda (33 Tests)
6. Rob Leota (5 Tests)
7. Pete Samu (18 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (17 Tests)
9. Nic White (46 Tests)
10. James O’Connor (60 Tests)
11. Filipo Daugunu (6 Tests)
12. Hunter Paisami (13 Tests)
13. Len Ikitau (12 Tests)
14. Andrew Kellaway (12 Tests)
15. Kurtley Beale (94 Tests)
Replacements
16. Folau Fainga’a (24 Tests)
17. Angus Bell (15 Tests)
18. Allan Alaalatoa (52 Tests)
19. Will Skelton (20 Tests)
20. Lachlan Swinton (6 Tests)
21. Tate McDermott (14 Tests)
22. Lalakai Foketi*
23. Tom Wright (9 Tests)
*denotes uncapped
rusty
Roar Rookie
I was counting Japan as a loss, because it looked like a loss!!
rusty
Roar Rookie
sorry 3
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
What scorecard is 4 from 4? It’s not our tour
rusty
Roar Rookie
Four from four!! How did he not get the forwards wrong?
Fox1
Roar Rookie
Crap. Something is not right here.
Olly
Roar Rookie
To you obviously not.
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
But all you say comes to matching a plan or plans to the players you have. It is hardly news that decision making is a very weak point in Oz sides at almost any level. So, why would you have a very ambitious ball in hand style when players lack decision making skills to make it work? There isn't much point stating the ideal qualities of a 9 and 10 if that is divorced from the reality of what you have. And, by the way, I have coached and I have seen a lot of rugby, so I have a passing familiarity with the positional requirements. That, in fact, is why I am staggered by the naivety of the current game plan/s. It isn't just decision making - it is also basic skills and instincts. Oz have very few players who have a reasonably complete set of skills and instincts for their position. So, again, why try for a style that is beyond the execution of the players. The national coach really doesn't get the players for long enough or when they are young enough to fix these things. I will also add that when 9 and 10 aren't working well it is probably also because the forward platform isn't there. However, I am of the view that Oz has the forwards to play a tighter game, albeit not an ultra-tight one. Instead they are being asked to run around like they are playing for Waikato Chiefs in 2013. The really disappointing thing is that selections and non-selections mean that Oz are no closer to really knowing what their depth is like. Lolesio is pretty clearly the player Rennie picks when he has no other option. Harrison? There are options. Both Lolesion and Harison actually have skills and capacities that would work very well with a plan more appropriate to the level of the players. Both Lolesio and Harrison kick well and both have a good passing game. Given what was fairly obviously the refereeing pattern from early in the season, the best plan was to play territory, let the ref whistle up point scoring opps and not chance your arm too often. Basically a Brumbies style, which could have been hybridised with some elements of the Qld game. Both of the above could do that. What they can't do is play a NZ style, and neither can any of the other key players. As I have said, Rennie et al are very capable people, but in my view Oz has not advanced since Cheika (except in deportment), they are not developing talent, they are destroying it and this would be one of the very worst international seasons from Oz in a long time - 3-0 vs NZ and 3-0 on the Home Unions tour. The performance v Japan was poor as well. Nothing I have seen gives me a sense that Oz have a coherent, winning plan and that they are building towards implementing it. Until the fundamental limits of the player cohort is recognised, the side will continue to misfire. this is a side that is, realistically, in the 6-8 range in terms of world ranking for a reason.
Breakaway6
Roar Rookie
You are delusional. Doesn’t make sense. Shihh
Olly
Roar Rookie
Hunter tackled the player off the ball, 3 points. Rushed out of the def line again, failing to get over the game line all game so we resort to the passing the ball out the back...again getting caught behind the game line. Thank god for our Forward pack keeping is in that game. Yes a very good run from Hunter late in the game of an excellent pass from Leota....the exact line that.makes him a 13 not a 12. JOC is playing our 12 at 10 and we would have won this game if JOC was at 12.
Olly
Roar Rookie
...he did not play well.... our entire backline was ordinary and thank god for our Forward back. Hunter again caught behind the game line constantly, an internal 12 who can't crash the game line is a joke, rushed up in def missing his man again, tackled a player off the ball leading to 3 points, spent most of the game throwing long balls out the back.....again a Wallabies game where our backs could not get over the advantage line. Never seen a 10 have to hit it up so much in a Test game. Yes one good angle run of an excellent ball from our best on field Leota... a run into space exactly what hunter is good at and why he is a 13, not a 12 where their is less space hence he plays 13 at the Reds..... We would have won this game with JOC at 12 instead of him playing 10 carrying the load of 12.
Fox1
Roar Rookie
The more you write the clearer you have no idea what the f you are talking about. Go back to your shell and hide. Your favourite players are the reason why the WBs lost all the three games. You are a fan that's all you got. You don't know anything about the game. Hunter was the player of the match.
Breakaway6
Roar Rookie
Gee you full of crap. Paisami had an excellent game proving all your crap wrong. Shih
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
Well said.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
Beale has never had a test blinder? Please….
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
I like the squad, going to the game today. Would have liked Noah to get a run at 10 and have JOC on for last 30.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Fair call. The experience in the OS players has been a mixed bag hasn't it. Still the back line has been green and lacking leadership. Godwin had a solid year at the force and has a reliable left boot. Anyway
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Agree TK wasn't at his fitness peak but he would have built into it. The rugby IQ and defensive leadership would be worth the offset
Mo
Guest
TK wasn’t agile enough during the season to select. Godwin had a good defensive season at 12 and 13 and could have done a fair bit of the job we wanted To’omua to do.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Yeah but considering Beale’s experience consists of missing tackles, running sideways, throwing poor passes and losing I’m not sure its that useful
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Rugby heaven...i can't see us beating wales because that 10-12 combo will waste the ball again provided by the forward pack..if anything we will have to play a forward game...im still waiting for paisami to have a stand out game... JOC has been of the boil since his cameo against Los pumas...