'Absolutely owning Rieko tonight': Highly-touted Chiefs' midfielder has breakthrough performance against the Blues
When Quinn Tupaea burst onto the Mitre 10 Cup scene with Waikato in 2018, Chiefs fans were rapt that one of New Zealand’s best up and coming talents was playing for one of their feeder Unions.
A local product of Hamilton Boys High, Tupaea’s Mitre 10 Cup form at outside centre warranted Super Rugby attention but to Chiefs’ fans dismay, the youngster was left out of their Super Rugby team squad for 2019.
A year earlier the Hamilton Boys student had represented New Zealand schools as a 12 but had found his feet as a 13 at the provincial level with Waikato. Instead of playing Super Rugby in 2019, Tupaea graduated to the New Zealand under-20 team where he was a first choice 13 in a luckless campaign at the under-20 World Championships.
With the Chiefs’ midfield already hosting All Black Anton Lienert-Brown, Tupaea’s introduction to Super Rugby in a disrupted season in 2020 was again at 13 with Brown occupying the second five eighth role.
?? 21 year-old Quinn Tupaea was electrifying for the @ChiefsRugby last night in Hamilton!@skysportnz #CHIvBLU #SkySuperRugbyAotearoa pic.twitter.com/DIwrRt4EsO
— Super Rugby (@SuperRugbyNZ) March 27, 2021
In 2021, the two players have swapped roles and it seems to be paying dividends as Tupaea’s latest performance against the Blues an indication of potential that he possesses that had Chiefs’ fans so excited for back in 2018.
The direct nature of Tupaea’s confrontational running caused problems for the Blues all night, where he made three line breaks and beat eight defenders. One fan wrote he was ‘absolutely owning Rieko’, the Blues’ own star centre.
Tupaea running some good hard lines this evening and already had a couple of line breaks, you can really see why Waikato have had such raps on the young guy #CHIvBLU
— Paul from New Zealand Sport Radio (@DrivingMaul) March 27, 2021
Young fulla Tupaea is absolutely owning Reiko tonight #SuperRugbyAotearoa #CHIvBLU
— Will (@Allsortssports1) March 27, 2021
Quinn Tupaea hitting the gap ??? has been good on defence as well ?? using his strength and power both sides of the ball ? Naitoa Ah Kuoi been involved as well (red scrumcap) 2nd half coming up 0 – 7 Blues #CHIvBLU
— Aaron Smith's Pass ?? (@Doc_Torio) March 27, 2021
BTW… can we talk about Quinn Tupaea!? Pure ? #CHIvBLU
— Michael Pulman ????? (@realmikepulman) March 27, 2021
Im liking this Tupaea at 12 every week. #CHIvBLU
— The Bulldozer (@MazwiZuma) March 27, 2021
Quinn Tupaea and Hoskins Sotutu are bolters. Love their work #SuperRugbyAotearoa #CHIvBLU
— Mark O'Shea (@markoyaaaay) June 20, 2020
Quinn Tupaea finding his feet in Super Rugby in the last two weeks #CHIvBLU
— Joseph Pearson (@joepearsonffx) March 27, 2021
Quinn Tupaea is wonder. Phenomenal 12. At 21 and he is playing like this, he clearly has a bright future ahead of him
— Cool kid (@hansenmagwilu) March 27, 2021
RugbyPass writer Nick Turnbull rated Tupaea an 8/10 for his performance, calling him ‘the best Chief on the park’.
“He was devastating in attack tonight causing the Blues midfields headaches they’ll be feeling for a while yet,” he wrote
“His defence was also telling as the Blues didn’t get as much punch through the midfield as they may have been hoping for because of this man. Best Chief on the park.”
The young midfielder finished with 13/14 tackles in a rounded performance that gave his side impact in both in defence and attack.
However, the Chiefs often failed to reap the reward of the lead-up work created by Tupaea’s line breaks, blowing multiple chances to finish in the first half as the Blues were able to preserve a slim lead.
Although the Chiefs were equally resistant at the other end, foiling many Blues efforts with last-ditch turnovers inside their own 22. A magnificent cover tackle by Damian McKenzie prevented a would-be try from Mark Telea in the corner.
It was McKenzie who came up with the match-winner for the Chiefs, breaking the Blues’ hearts when he dived over after spinning out of the tackle of three Blues defenders in the 79th minute.
It would be the last play of the game as McKenzie’s conversion was able to wind down the rest of the clock to seal the Chiefs second win in as many matches after going winless throughout the entire Super Rugby Aotearoa season last year and the first two rounds of 2021.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments