The Waratahs have called up a teacher and assistant first XV coach from Sydney private school Shore as back up hooker after losing their first two choices to head knocks.
Dave Porecki and Tom Horton both suffered knocks in the loss to the Chiefs on Friday, leaving Darren Coleman favourite Mahe Vailanu with a debut start against Crusaders this week.
On Thursday, assistant coach Pauli Taumoepeau confirmed that 25-year-old teacher and Eastwood hooker Ed Craig would be joining the team, a week after turning out in Cowra for in the Shute Shield.
Craig is not a complete Super Rugby novice, having played twice for both the Rebels and the Reds over the past two years.
Ed Craig playing for the Rebels against the Reds last year. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
“He’s been around – it was one of the Leichhardt games a couple of weeks ago,” said Taumoepeau. “It was good to reconnect with him.
“He came in this morning but he knew two days ago so he could prep. He was good and his knowledge and is well versed in the Super Rugby sphere. “
Taumoepeau didn’t play down the size of the challenge facing Craig, coming off the Shute Shield into a match up with the Crusaders.
“Whatever challenge you think a school teacher who played in Cowra last week under lights against Norths, moving into a professional environment, playing against the Crusaders – I’d imagine it would be that,” he said.
“But what I like about Ed is he’s got a calm head. If we got in some young kid it would be a different story but he’s been really good and receptive at processing information, making sure that works for him.
“We’ve go a job to make sure the pictures we present to him aren’t too hard – we have to meet in the middle. There’s a bit of pressure on him to learn everything in a crash course but we have to be smart in how we play around him.”
The team was linked overnight to a return by controversial Wallabies hooker Tolu Latu, who is currently serving an 11-week ban and is on the nose with his French club.
“It’s all happened pretty quick,” said Taumoepeau of the rumours. “I’d heard his French club were looking at ending it but to this end and he going to be here, and are we interested, I’m probably not the guy to answer to be honest.”
The Tahs had a torrid start to the trans Tasman section of this campaign last week when Angus Bell was sent off within minutes of the start, and they lost both hookers. With Bell as the third choice lineout thrower, the job fell to unprepared Harry Johnson-Holmes, who struggled, at times comically.
“There’s a good lesson there, I have to prep deeper there, ” said Taumoepeau, who acknowledged he’s only prepared one additional thrower.
“It was a good learning curve for me – it probably showed my in this competition and I needed to plan a bit better.”
Cole made four changes to the starting lie up for this week’s match, among them the inclusion of No.8 Rahboni Warren-Vosayco for his first start of the season ahead of Will Harris.
“He’s been good,” said Taumoepeau. “He has had a specific role around sparking the team when he comes on and he’s done that.
“Last week, even though he slipped over a few times, he got his hands on the ball.
“I’ve been really impressed how he’s come on and been able to get in situations to carry and get us forward. He had a linebreak last week with one of his first touches , so he just brings a little bit of a different game around his carries.
“I know Will Harris has got a lot of media around how he’s been carrying out on an edge. We’ll see Rahboni doing his thing around the middle every now and again.
“We’re happy with what he’s been giving us and he has been rewarded this week.”
The Crusaders are overwhelming favourites for this week’s match after blowing away the Rebels in the second half of their Super Round match, with Tahs paying odds of $15 the win with some bookies.
“Fifteen bucks is pretty good value – what am I for first try scorer?” joked Johnson-Holmes.
“We’re pretty cool headed. If the bookies have us at 15 bucks and no one gives us a chance we’ve got nothing to lose and we’re playing with house money. We’re pretty excited and an opportunity to play the Crusaders is awesome.”
The Kiwi team has rested several of their All Blacks, including Ethan Blackadder and Richie Mo’unga, but Taumoepeau brushed off questions about their strength.
“I don’t care. I know that could come across as arrogant but I don’t have any say in what they do,” he explained.
“Whatever team they present, sweet. We’ve prepped ours, it hasn’t changed. It’s perceived they’ve rested people but we’re still playing Crusaders.
“As respectfully as that can come across , because I have no control over it, it doesn’t matter.”
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