Tatafu Polota-Nau watch

[BFG]

This is a good signing IMO!
It's not that the two younger hookers aren't good players because they are but truth be told Leicester are dropping off later on in matches and they have not done enough to cement places IMO!
OTY gets put through the mill a bit IMO in terms of quantity which is bound to affect his quality, if they are serious about challenging the likes of Saracens then they need to maintain pressure off the bench and having two very good physical hookers is great stuff IMO!

[Chobbsy]

This is a good signing IMO!
It's not that the two younger hookers aren't good players because they are but truth be told Leicester are dropping off later on in matches and they have not done enough to cement places IMO!
OTY gets put through the mill a bit IMO in terms of quantity which is bound to affect his quality, if they are serious about challenging the likes of Saracens then they need to maintain pressure off the bench and having two very good physical hookers is great stuff IMO!

So is he coming in as back up to OTY or to be the number 1, number 2?

[Mark62]

This is a good signing IMO!
It's not that the two younger hookers aren't good players because they are but truth be told Leicester are dropping off later on in matches and they have not done enough to cement places IMO!
OTY gets put through the mill a bit IMO in terms of quantity which is bound to affect his quality, if they are serious about challenging the likes of Saracens then they need to maintain pressure off the bench and having two very good physical hookers is great stuff IMO!

So is he coming in as back up to OTY or to be the number 1, number 2?

Saracens have shown you don’t have to be 1 or 2 it’s as much about rotation and having proper finishers on the bench. They currently have 3 international hookers

[strawclearer]

This is a good signing IMO!
It's not that the two younger hookers aren't good players because they are but truth be told Leicester are dropping off later on in matches and they have not done enough to cement places IMO!
OTY gets put through the mill a bit IMO in terms of quantity which is bound to affect his quality, if they are serious about challenging the likes of Saracens then they need to maintain pressure off the bench and having two very good physical hookers is great stuff IMO!

So is he coming in as back up to OTY or to be the number 1, number 2?

Saracens have shown you don’t have to be 1 or 2 it’s as much about rotation and having proper finishers on the bench. They currently have 3 international hookers

Exactly. Although you never get there completely, rotation is about having two 1st XV's - not a 1st XV and a 2nd XV. For the key positions, it's becoming a prerequisite for success.

[JP14]

This is a good signing IMO!
It's not that the two younger hookers aren't good players because they are but truth be told Leicester are dropping off later on in matches and they have not done enough to cement places IMO!
OTY gets put through the mill a bit IMO in terms of quantity which is bound to affect his quality, if they are serious about challenging the likes of Saracens then they need to maintain pressure off the bench and having two very good physical hookers is great stuff IMO!

I agree with you mostly BFG but Thacker is one of the few players that have been making an impact of the bench but Polota-Nau will make considerable impact against teams who have spent 60 or so minutes trying to withheld the likes of Genge and Mapapalangi

[Mark62]

Starting for the Aussies against the Welsh just scored a try from a driving line out

[TheRock]

Put in a great covering tackle on gareth davis

[Mark62]

Plenty of pace for a man of his size, will be a great asset

[Dr H Flashman MBE]

He is going to punch some very large holes in defences. A very good bit of business by the looks of it. With him and our two Tongan monsters in the back row, there is going to be some bruised bodies on our opposition teams. Nice work the board.

[baz1664]

Looked quality, beast in the loose and solid at the line out/scrum, always love seeing the Aussies doing a job on the welsh!!

[TigerCam]

Looks impressive, certainly good at chucking the pill

[strawclearer]

Only saw the first 20 - saving the rest until tomorrow - but he looked properly effective. Can't wait!

[voice of the crumbie]

Only saw the first 20 - saving the rest until tomorrow - but he looked properly effective. Can't wait!

I watched the whole game today and that confirmed the opinion you expressed in your post. Looks good in all aspects of the game. Apart from his first line out throw which went astray everything else he did looked good. For what it's worth the commentators thought he had a good game.

[Soggypitch]

Looked quality, beast in the loose and solid at the line out/scrum, always love seeing the Aussies doing a job on the welsh!!

+1

He looks a great player.

Back to the Welsh - I spoke to a Welshman this morning who blamed the result on an experimental side, new method of playing, the ref....etc.

When I asked him what was the excuse for the 13 previous looses to Australia, he seemed lost for words!!

[BFG]

Looked quality, beast in the loose and solid at the line out/scrum, always love seeing the Aussies doing a job on the welsh!!

+1

He looks a great player.

Back to the Welsh - I spoke to a Welshman this morning who blamed the result on an experimental side, new method of playing, the ref....etc.

When I asked him what was the excuse for the 13 previous looses to Australia, he seemed lost for words!!

Wales still clinging on to that 2011 World Cup semi-final, which they should've won and had they done so had a great chance to passionately sweep to victory the final!
Those days have gone and they have failed to evolve, they seem to often pick on the 12 and back rows but problems are also evident elsewhere with some overrated regulars!

Polota-Nau played really well for Australia on the highlights that I saw, I was particularly impressed with what could've been a try saving cover tackle, the bloke looks like he has plenty of gears and a very responsive change!