Stephen Hoiles has been apart of the invitational Waratahs set up since early Janurary from reports he will be ready to play some game time within 2-3 weeks. Could be a very handy backup 8 to add to the list.
I didn't see him in the 3 practice sessions I saw this month but that is not a big sample. Nor was he invited to play in either of the two trials, though other people were.
I am glad that Lopeti got his chance on the bench and that Hoiles wasn't cherry-picked from outside the 35 - also pleased that he was chosen ahead of Metuisela. The only invited player Foley is using in the 22 is a 7, Jono Jenkins. He could have used Metuisela but he is an 8 or 6 and wouldn't have brought any more to a 22 than Lopeti would. Besides, Foley would have expected Queensland to pick both Gill and Beau in their 22. Therefore a 2nd fetcher was needed to counter.
A question that could have been asked back in the day was: why was a spot wasted in the EPS with the selection of both Metuisela and Lopeti in it? The answer would have been because of Cliffy's injury record.
A question that arises now is that: if Lopetii or Cliffy get crocked, will Hoiles be cherry-picked over Metuisela, the last non-prop forward left in the 35, apart from specialist lock Peterson. Metu has been steady rather than brilliant in the trials, and dropped a few easy balls in both. But using Hoilles, with his dodgy achilles tendon history, is something to be avoided IMO.
