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'Cheika got my UK number - I never gave it to him, didn't want to'

Tatafu Polota-Nau. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Tatafu Polota-Nau thought he had escaped the clutches of Michael Cheika.

But the Wallabies coach proved his investigative and negotiating skills were up to scratch, luring the English-based hooker home out of the blue for a potential third World Cup campaign.

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“I am quite shocked to be back here,” the 89-Test veteran hooker told reporters ahead of a possible return in Saturday’s Rugby Championship Teat against Argentina in Brisbane.

“I was in good stead with the (Premiership Rugby club) Leicester preseason and all of a sudden my phone rings,” said 33-year-old Polota-Nau.

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“Little did I know Michael Cheika got my UK number – I never gave it to him, didn’t want to, but somehow he got it.

“He asked if I’d come along and I said ‘sure why not, I’ll give it one last crack’.”

Noted scrummager Polota-Nau admits he wasn’t happy with what he thought was his farewell Wallabies form last year and it took some convincing from the coach to drag him back i nto the fold.

Knee surgery in the English off-season behind him, Polota-Nau rates himself a chance to feature at Suncorp Stadium and push younger hooking options like in-form Folau Fainga’a ahead of September’s World Cup in Japan.

“It ended with a sour note last season … I sort of thought it was my last with the Wallabies,” he said.

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“I didn’t have the stamina I used to have, but that’s because my preparation wasn’t the best.

“It’s from my end just to see if I’ve still got it … give these guys (younger hookers) a run for their money.”

The Wallabies are unbeaten in their last five Tests in Brisbane but have won just two of their last seven Rugby Championship clashes.

Argentina are well-stocked with Jaguares talent that played in the Super Rugby decider and, despite losing their last six Tests, present as a genuine threat after their plucky win on the Gold Coast last year.

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– AAP

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NH 1 hour ago
Wallabies player ratings vs British & Irish Lions | 2025 Lions series

Allan and Mcreight best on ground for the wallabies followed by Jorgenson and Wilson imo. Backs largely anonymous on attack but that was largely down to lack of go forward and opportunity. As many have alluded to, every wallaby forward put in a huge shift and showed heart, but they were bullied. Frost, Williams, Faessler, Slipper all lost the physicality battle. Wallabies were ok to good in most areas, lions were just better across most if not all of them. 3 work ons - 1) fix the lineout - that stymied any attacking chance and territory the wbs had in the first half. 2) better kick receipt and chase - lions ‘got the bounce of the ball’ too much which is to say they chased better. We need to win more of these 50/50 possessions. 3) physicality - lose the contest, lose the game. WBs simply lost the contact area too often, going backwards in attack and giving the lions quick ball in attack. Bell, Skelton, Tupou, Lukhan, Valetini should all come into contention for the 23 to provide more starch, but imo id pick for the lineout first so that may mean skelton off the bench. Wallabies need to come out firing and attempt to protect a lead, they can’t chase the game. Schmidt often balances the 23, but he needs to go all in with his starters. bell, best lineout hooker, allan, frost, hooper, valetini, mcreight, wilson, tate, lynagh, jorgo, ikitau, suaalii, peitsch, wright, 2nd best lienout hooker, slipper, tupou, skelton, nick CDC, gordon, JOC, kellaway.

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