Tatafu Polota-Nau stunned by Wallabies recall

Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau admits that he is surprised to be back in the mix having spent pre-season with English Premiership club Leicester Tigers.

The front-rower thought that his international career had ended following the 2018 November campaign, but has returned to the squad ahead of the Argentina clash.

Folau Fainga’a and Jordan Uelese were the two players in the 23 for the South Africa Test, but Polota-Nau could come into the reckoning for this weekend’s encounter and the 33-year-old conceded that he did not expect to be involved in the Rugby Championship.

“I am quite shocked to be back here,” he told reporters. “I was in good stead with the Leicester pre-season and all of a sudden my phone rings.

“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.’”

The 33-year-old has garnered 89 caps for the Wallabies with his last game coming at Twickenham in what was a chastening 37-18 defeat to England.

That result followed a 9-6 loss to Wales and a 26-7 triumph over Italy in what was an intermittent performance, ending a poor year for the team.

Polota-Nau came on in all three matches but the hooker admitted that he struggled and it left him with some unfinished business.

He added: “It ended with a sour note last season…I sort of thought it was my last with the Wallabies.”

“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.”