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Daryl Gibson not ruling out Tolu Latu from Saturday's match with the Brumbies just yet

Waratahs and Australia hooker Tolu Latu

NSW Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has named drink-driving hooker Tolu Latu to potentially make his return from a two-week suspension in Saturday night’s must-win Super Rugby clash with the Brumbies.

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Gibson bracketed Latu on the bench with Andrew Tuala on another tumultuous day in the Waratahs’ season from hell.

Latu pleaded guilty in court to mid-range drink-driving on Thursday after being found slumped at the wheel of his car last month and later registering a 0.135 blood alcohol reading.

His case was adjourned until next week, by when the Waratahs’ finals hopes may or may not have been extinguished.

Gibson said a decision on whether Latu – who was also booted out of a Wallabies camp following his brush with the law – would be allowed to play against the Brumbies was still pending.

“We’re just seeing what his lawyers advise us around the next steps,” Gibson said.

“Obviously we’re keen for him to take his place this weekend and get some games for us.

“(But) it’s hard to say. He’s served his two-match suspension, he’s taken his drink-driver education courses, he’s sought counselling so he’s making the steps necessary, in our view, to make a successful rehabilitation.”

Lock Ned Hanigan was ruled out of the Bankwest Stadium showdown after failing a concussion test, leaving Tom Staniforth to partner Rob Simmons in the second row.

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The Waratahs are sitting third in the Australian conference and in 10th spot overall on the table and must beat both the Brumbies and the Highlanders in Dunedin next week to have any hope of making the finals.

Compounding the Tahs’ troubles was John Folau’s release from the club on the same day his sacked Wallabies superstar brother Israel lodged an unfair dismissal claim against Rugby Australia.

Waratahs: Kurtley Beale, Alex Newsome, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Lalakai Foketi, Curtis Rona, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Michael Wells, Michael Hooper (c), Lachlan Swinton, Rob Simmons, Tom Staniforth, Sekope Kepu, Damien Fitzpatrick, Tom Robertson. Reserves: Tolu Latu/Andrew Tuala, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Chris Talakai, Jed Holloway, Will Miller, Jake Gordon, Tautalatasi Tasi, Cameron Clark.

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AM 40 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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