'Because in World Cups, set pieces are important.' - Tupou's growing pains as Australia's future anchor
A man his size is used to having it all his own way, so Taniela Tupou’s 2019 Super Rugby frustrations have been a blessing if you ask his coach Brad Thorn.
Rookie of the year in 2018, Super Rugby appeared a simple transition for ‘Tongan Thor’, whose legend was born when a social media highlight reel went viral five years ago.
The march continued with a Wallabies debut but finally the Queensland Reds prop – listed at 135kg and boasting surprising speed and guile – has encountered his first hurdle.
“It was frustrating for him earlier in the year, frustrations for sure,” former All Black Thorn said of the 23-year-old ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Waratahs.
“He just felt he was getting some decisions against him at scrum time.
“I had a chat to him the other day, he really had a look at how he was preparing on the training pitch but also off the field.
“It gave him the time to grow his character, it was a bit of a challenge for him.”
Tupou has conceded four free kicks at scrum time – the most in the competition – and eight penalties, the equal second highest number behind Crusaders and All Black prop Joe Moody (10).
Thorn is among the most decorated footballers on the planet and, eyeing an unlikely finals berth with the Reds this season, he thinks Tupou’s trying times might be just what was needed.
“As a young player you don’t just want it to be all easy and smooth the whole way,” he said.
“If you don’t develop character and some steel, go through some times where you have to re-adjust (it can be to your detriment).
“You’ve got to put that hard work in.
“I don’t think it’s been a bad thing and he’s stronger for it and happy.”
Contracted to Rugby Australia until the end of 2020, Tupou is reportedly in discussions to extend that deal through to the 2023 World Cup in France.
Rival prop Sekope Kepu’s move to London Irish next year adds further value to Tupou’s signature, not that you need to convince Thorn of that.
“If he’s harnessing all that he has and is disciplined and has that focus and form it’s a good prospect for a national coach to have,” Thorn said.
“Because in World Cups, set pieces are important.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Kok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
16 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to commentsLess modern South African males predictably triggered.
16 Go to commentsMy heart is with Quins, but the head is convinced Toulouse have too much. Ntamack is back, his timing and wisdom has been missed.
1 Go to commentsWow, what a starting line up for the Sharks) Tasty up front,kremer vs Tshituka or venter …fiery ,,Lavannini ,,will he knobble etzebeth? Biggest game for belleau?
1 Go to commentsIt was rubbish to watch, Blues weren’t even present. Did what they had to do, nothing more. Should be better next week against canes.
1 Go to commentsI’ve just noticed that this match has an all-French refereeing team. Surely a game like this ought to have a neutral ref? Although looking at the BBC preview of the Saints game, Raynal is also down as reffing that - so there may be some confusion about who is reffing what.
1 Go to commentsIf Havili can play anywhere in the back line, why not first 5. #10.
11 Go to commentsThe dressing room had already left for their summer break before they ran out in Dublin that year, and that’s on the coach. Franco Smith has undoubtedly made progress, particularly their maul, developing squad players and increasing squad depth. And against a very tight budget too. That said they were too lightweight last year and got found out against both Toulon and Munster in consecutive games. Better this season so far but they’ve developed something of a slow start habit occasionally, most notably losing at home to Northampton who played them at their own game. Play offs will ultimately show whether there has been tangible progress on last year, or not…!
2 Go to commentsAustralian Rugby has been a disaster, by not incorporating learning from previous successful campaigns. QLD Reds 2011 - Waratahs 2014. Players, coaches and administrators appoint there representatives for scheduled meetings, organisation’s agreement’s assessments and correspondence. This why a unified Rugby Union under one entity works. Every Rugby nation has taken that path. Was most difficult in the Northern hemisphere with over 100 years of club rugby before the game become professional. Took a lot of humility for those unions to eventually work together.
7 Go to commentsThough Wilson’s sacking was pretty brutal, it wasn’t just down to that Leinster game; Glasgow had a lot of 2nd half collapses that season, in the URC and Europe, and only just scraped into the playoffs. Franco Smith has definitely been an improvement, some players are delivering far more than they did under Wilson.
2 Go to commentsjesus - that front 5!
1 Go to commentsShould be an absolute cracker of a game! Will be great to see DuPont & Ntamack in tandem once again🔥
1 Go to commentsBest team ever…. To have played? These guys are still pressure chokers. Came nowhere when it counted. What a joke
84 Go to commentsMusk defends anonymous terrorism, fascism, threats against individuals and children etc etc But a Rugby club account….lock ‘em up!!!
2 Go to commentsActually the era defining moment came a few years earlier. February 2002 to be precise, when Michael D Higgins as finance minister at the time introduced his sports persons tax relief bill to the dial. As the politicians of the day stated “It seems to be another daft K Club frolic born in Kildare amongst the well-paid professional jockeys with whom the Minister plays golf” and that the scheme represented “a savage uncaring vision of Ireland and one that should be condemned”. The irfu and Leinster would be nowhere near the position they are in today without this key component of the finances.
5 Go to comments