Sio to be Wallabies’ third-string hooker

The worst kept secret in Australian rugby has been confirmed, with coach Michael Cheika declaring prop Scott Sio is the Wallabies’ third-choice hooker for next month’s Rugby World Cup.

Cheika has been widely criticised for his selection gamble in selecting only two specialist hookers – Tatafu Polota-Nau and Stephen Moore.

“We know that Scott Sio will be the back-up; he’s played hooker before. He’s got a good lineout throw and he’s a very strong scrummager in that position,” Cheika said.

Sio has played hooker at schoolboy and under-20s level, and – at 115kg and 187cm – is well equipped to handle the middle of the scrum.

James Hanson remains on standby for the Wallabies and would come into the squad if Polota-Nau or Moore suffered a tournament-ending injury.

“If we get something short term, then Sio’s got experience and he’s more than capable of covering that void,” Cheika said.

Sio has been working under the guidance of Wallabies scrum coach and four-time World Cup hooker Mario Ledesma and Moore has been impressed by his Brumbies teammate.

“He’s been doing a lot of practice at training. I told him not to get too good at it, but he’s been really good so far,” Moore said.

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