Tuesday’s rugby news has Tolu Latu surprised by Wallabies call up, Marika Koroibete revealing his real motivation to move to Rugby Union, Sekope Kepu happy with emerging props and Nehe Milner-Skudder ruled out for the rest of the year.
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Latu Surprised
Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu has admitted he was surprised by his call up to the Wallabies squad to replace the injured Tatafu Polota-Nau.
Latu was apart of the Wallabies squad in 2014 but a broken arm delayed his chance of a test debut.
“Pretty surprising after the season Andrew Ready had with the Reds, so yeah pretty surprising to get the call up,” he said.
“Hopefully the second time around lasts a bit longer than what I did last time.”
“To be honest that was my first camp, that was my first year of professional rugby,” he said.
“I was pretty fresh and didn’t really back myself to do a lot of things, and I was just happy to be there.”
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Koroibete Moved for Money
Melbourne Rebels recruit Marika Koroibete has revealed that he is only leaving the NRL for money.
Koroibete will play his last Rugby League match when the Melbourne Storm play the Cronulla Sharks in the NRL grand final.
“I’d like to have stayed,” Koroibete said.
“I have to look after the family, especially back home (in Fiji).
“It’s a business decision; but if they gave me a good offer I would have stayed.”
Koroibete has previously said that Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has asked him to join the Wallabies on the Spring tour at the end of the year.
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Kepu Happy with Props
Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu says he is happy with the new generation of props coming through Australian rugby.
The emergence of Tom Robertson and Allan Alaalatoa has been a highlight for the Wallabies during the Rugby Championship.
“It’s exciting and scary for me,” he said.
“I’m almost 10 years older than a couple of those guys.
“I’m just more happy for Australian rugby that we’ve got young guys coming through and the important thing for those young guys is to get that experience and bide their time.”
“They’re in a great program and it’s exciting for me to know when I move on, there’s a lot of great young props and players – not only can they scrum but they can run and carry the ball a fair bit.”
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Milner-Skudder Out
Hurricanes and All Blacks back Nehe Milner-Skudder has ruled out playing for the rest of the year due to a long term shoulder injury.
Milner-Skudder will play it safe and focus on having a strong pre-season with the Hurricanes.
He broke the news over Instagram.
“Would have loved to get back out on the paddock this year but it’s a bit too early and still some risk of buggering it,” Milner-Skudder wrote.
“I look forward to getting stuck into preseason with the Canes.”
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