This was published 7 years ago
Stephen Moore backs Wallabies hooker depth as Andrew Ready crosses fingers
By Tom Decent
Cardiff: Wallabies captain Stephen Moore has lauded Australia's depth of talent in the hooker department as his soon-to-be Queensland Reds teammate Andrew Ready waits in the wings for a potential call up to the spring tour squad.
Ready is in the right place at the right time, with the 23-year-old spending the past week in London before his appearance for the Barbarians at Wembley Stadium.
The Wallabies are set to call in a hooker to replace to James Hanson after he fractured his jaw at training during the week.
Ready would be the obvious replacement given he is only two hours away from the squad in Wales and could be in Edinburgh by Monday morning to begin training if called upon.
Potential call-up: Andrew Ready.Credit: Getty Images
However, until at least the Barbarians game, Ready had not been informed by Wallabies officials whether his services would be required.
"In regards to the Wallabies, I haven't heard anything but solely concentrating on putting in a good performance for the Barbarians and making a positive statement," Ready told Fairfax Media. "Thoroughly enjoying the whole Barbarian FC experience."
It would be a just reward for Ready, who had an outstanding Super Rugby season in a Queensland Reds side that at times struggled to find its rhythm.
The bitter pill for Ready to swallow though would no doubt be hearing coach Michael Cheika's comments on Thursday that he believed the Reds youngster actually had a better Super Rugby season than Tolu Latu, the man who picked as the third hooker to travel to Europe behind Moore and Hanson.
Ready has the backing of Moore though, who also commented on the plethora of young hookers coming through the ranks pushing he and the injured Tatafu Polota-Nau.
"He's a guy who has been part of the squad already this year in some of our camps," Moore said. "He's had a very strong Super Rugby season as well and is another guy who has played very well in NRC.
"There's some depth there. I think we've been building throughout the year, there's been a lot of new players that are coming into the team over the year."
That Latu was even in the frame to make his Test debut this year is quite remarkable given his limited opportunities with the Waratahs but Moore predicted Saturday would not be Latu's first opportunity in a gold jersey.
"He's been outstanding," Moore said. "He's come into the squad and he played very well in the NRC so I think that's a great advertisement for that competition that a player's come through that pathway and been selected in the Wallabies squad and now he's got his chance to play his first Test. He's been great out there all week. You'd like to think that would be the first of many for him.
"His set-piece is very strong. He will be well suited at that level. I think he's shown that for the Waratahs and he's been really keen to learn, he's been getting stuck in at training and all the things that all the young players have been doing really well. He's really deserved his opportunity now to go on and pull that jersey on for the first time."