Tolu Latu didn't see a minute of action in the Wallabies' three June Tests because he wasn't fit enough, coach Michael Cheika says.
Latu is arguably the most promising hooker in Australian rugby, yet he was omitted from the squads to play Fiji, Scotland and Italy and has seemingly slid further down the pecking order behind Stephen Moore and veteran Tatafu Polota-Nau.
The 24-year-old played in four Tests last year but has been warned he won't get another look in until he starts physically "outshining" Moore and Polota Nau.
"I think Tolu probably got caught in the fitness battle," said Cheika, who has been on the warpath saying that Super Rugby franchises have failed to prepare Wallabies players adequately for the rigours of Test rugby.
"I think that for a young guy coming up, he's a player we've got a lot of regard for. We want him to be in the game here for a long time but he got caught out by the fact that as a young player. He needs to be working harder than anybody. He needs to be outshining the older guys, physically in particular, because he's got 10 years on them. When he steps up to that plate I've got no doubt whatsoever he'll be able to compete for the No. 1 hooker spot."
Latu has two more regular season matches with the Waratahs, against the Jaguares at home and Western Force in Perth, to show evidence of his improved fitness base.
Cheika, meanwhile, said he would be in contact with Super Rugby coaches to ensure the training workloads for Wallabies are topped up over the coming weeks.
"There's no doubt that we've trained the guys much harder than they would have been used to in their week-to-week," he said.
"It has an effect.
"We've got to keep them at that level now for another few weeks at their teams and then try and go up again when we get back into camp."
The Wallabies return to action on August 19 in their Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup opener against New Zealand in Sydney.