Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

‘We better use him’: The Tahs star that must be ‘considered’ for Test honours

(Photo by SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Former Australian international Stephen Hoiles has urged the Wallabies to “use” Mahe Vailanu at Test level or risk losing the Waratahs hooker to another nation.

ADVERTISEMENT

Throughout this year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign, Vailanu has been more than impressive off the bench for the Sydney-based franchise.

Wallabies hooker David Porecki may have cemented his place in the Waratahs starting side, but Vailanu has taken each and every opportunity to come off the bench with both hands.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

Vailanu, who won a Major League Rugby championship alongside Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper at the LA Giltinis, is a powerful scrummanger and is accurate at lineouts.

In fact, according to Hoiles, the 26-year-old is “probably one of the top three hookers in the country.”

But if Eddie Jones and the Wallabies fail to act quickly, then another nation may look to select the dynamic front rower for higher honours.

“I’m going to throw it out there – Mahe is becoming probably one of the top three hookers in the country. I know he’s coming off the bench but he’s exceptional,” Hoiles said on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts.

ADVERTISEMENT

“He’s eligible for Tonga. I don’t know what his plans are, is he going to stay at the Tahs? I know that Tonga would be chasing him for a World Cup.

“We better use him soon or we’ll lose him.”

Vailanu was born in Tonga, attended Auckland Grammar in New Zealand, and is currently plying his trade in Australia.

As Hoiles mentioned, Tonga could potentially look to select Vailanu – and add him to a potential star studded squad which is expected to include Israel Folau and Charles Piutau.

And if they could, why wouldn’t they? Vailanu has been brilliant.

The replacement has been getting “better and better” every week for the Waratahs, and still has plenty of growth left in his game.

ADVERTISEMENT

“He’s got better and better,” he added.

Related

“Porecki has been outstanding and that’s his strength, his set-piece is phenomenal, but are you noticing Mahe miss throws? Are you noticing the scrum struggle when he comes on?

“It’s a position where you’ve got to do your time in the saddle to get better. You’ve got to be humiliated and you’ve got to be humbled as a hooker – scrummaging and throwing.

“That happened a few years ago when I was coaching side and lineout throws weren’t excellent, but he’s getting coached well. He’s got to be considered now.”

Currently sixth on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder, the Waratahs are set to face defending champions the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday afternoon.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

H
Hellhound 22 minutes ago
France put World Cup pain behind them with unbeaten run in November

France is starting to look like they are finally over their WC headache, although they were lucky that NZ had a very bad game. The Argies as usual is one game good, the next bad. If they can sort that out and be more consistent, they could become contenders for the WC.


NZ, Argentina (if they are more consistent), and now the Wallabies too is in an upward curve (can they be consistent?), as well as Fiji(as inconsistent as Argentina) looks like possible contenders. The Boks will be as usual a huge threat to defend their title. Things are looking up for the South, so the North should rightfully beware of the Southern Hemisphere threat.


With the French looking dangerous, the English with their close runs (mostly a mindset problem) and the Scottish seems to be the NH main contenders. The Irish is good, but not excellent anymore. They are more overbearing and with their glory days mostly gone with old players hanging on by a thread, by 2027 if they don't start adding in the younger players, they won't make it past yet another WC Quarter final. The problem is that their youngsters, while good is nothing special.


That is just 8 teams without the Irish that can become real WC contenders. Lots of hickups to be sorted still for these teams, excluding the Boks to become a threat. Make no mistake, the top Tier is much closer than people realise and the 2027 WC will be a really great WC, possibly the best contended WC ever.

1 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Despite defeat in Paris, the real reason the All Blacks are feeling upbeat Despite defeat in Paris, the real reason the All Blacks are feeling upbeat
Search