'As far as we're aware, he's an innocent man' - Waratahs react to latest unfolding off-field drama
The NSW Waratahs have defied another off-field scandal to stretch their interstate Super Rugby dominance over the Queensland Reds to 11 matches.
NSW kept their finals hopes alive thanks to the 40-32 win at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night, but they’re certain to face additional scrutiny after an incident involving Tolu Latu.
Charged with a drink driving offence on Thursday morning, Latu kept the bad news to himself until the story broke in the media on match day.
By that time, it was too late for Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson to call for a replacement.
“It’s now been kicked upstairs (to Rugby Australia). There’ll be a process and I imagine we’ll follow that closely and he’ll be disciplined,” Gibson said.
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Many of the 12,236 spectators would have been unaware of the unfolding controversy surrounding the Waratahs who selected Latu on the reserves bench despite the hooker being the subject of an investigation from Rugby Australia’s Integrity Unit.
NSW Rugby Union chief executive Andrew Hore was disappointed not to be told about the drama until late in the afternoon on match day.
Under the code’s professional player code of conduct, Rugby Australia have the discretion to stand down a player until the Integrity Unit probe has been completed.
“As far as we’re aware, he’s an innocent man until there’s been a proper, formal investigation,” Hore said.
“You’ve got to be fair. When you find out late in the piece it makes it tough.”
The Latu incident was another heavy blow following the sacking of Wallabies star Israel Folau.
But, with their season on the line, and backing up after a tough South African road trip, the players delivered a stirring performance to deny the Reds.
Cleared to play pending the investigation, Latu was injected late in the second half of an atypically freewheeling interstate battle.
The contest was fiercely contested and with 25 minutes remaining each side scored four tries as the Waratahs held a one-point lead.
Queensland scored six tries to four, and was denied another two by the Television Match Official, with Waratahs flyhalf Bernard Foley proving the difference with an eight from nine goalkicking performance and try in his 25-point haul.
In contrast, Reds kicker Bryce Hegarty, who usually a sharpshooter, only landed one from six.
Reds debutant Matt McGahan outshone opposite number Kurtley Beale with a confident showcase of skills in the first half.
Almost three years since he left the Blues, Queensland’s new fullback caught a soaring Beale bomb and showed lightning-fast hands to send winger Sefa Naivalu across for a try.
Frustrated Reds coach Brad Thorn said his side wasn’t ready to win such an intense, high-stakes game and was guilty of being “passive” and lacking a “hard edge”.
Still, the game was there to be won when hooker Alex Mafi scored from a pinpoint McGahan cross-field kick to give t he Reds a 32-31 lead with 14 minutes left.
“The game was there for us to take it,” captain Samu Kerevi said.
“There were key moments that we lapsed. We played some awesome footy out there, scored more tries but didn’t finish.”
AAP
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments