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‘We better use him’: The Tahs star that must be ‘considered’ for Test honours
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.
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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.
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.
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“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.
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“He’s got better and better,” he added.
“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.
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
3 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
3 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments