Ex-Wallaby’s telling observation before Taniela Tupou’s two-try heroics

Stan Sport commentator Morgan Turinui noticed Taniela Tupou’s “physical presence” during the Wallabies’ warm-up on Saturday, before the front-rower went on to score two tries in a 56-17 win over the Brave Blossoms in Townsville.

Tupou crashed over for a crucial try as the Wallabies prevailed over the same opponent 35-32 a week earlier in Osaka, and was then brought into the national team’s starting side for the first time since November 23.

The 30-year-old hadn’t scored in consecutive games since suiting up for the Queensland Reds in April 2021, but brought that streak to an end last weekend. Josh Nasser powered over for the first points of the contest, before Tupou made a difference with a first-half double.

It was a historic night for the forwards, with Angus Bell, Brandon Paenga-Amosa and debutant Massimo De Lutiis also touching down for five-pointers. Bell, Nasser and Tupou became just the second Wallabies starting front-row trio to all cross for tries in the same Test.

Carlo Tizzano was another standout, with the openside flanker winning three turnovers during his second start of the international season. Max Jorgensen and Isaac Henry also impressed, but Turinui made sure to praise the Wallabies’ “pizza boy” this week.

“I thought [Tupou] was brilliant. Obviously, the try-scoring stuff but I just saw some great energy around the park,” former Wallaby Turinui said on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts.

“Don’t underestimate how hard it is to back up after going to Osaka, coming back on the flight and the week that was.

“There was one sort of error when he gets the hands free running. I still thought it was a really positive error; it wasn’t just a tuck and run.

“I was keeping my eye on him from the warm-up onwards, because even in the warm-up I’d have been scared to defend him. When they went 15 on 15, in the warm-up, he was just carrying direct… to be a physical presence and I really saw that. I thought he was great.”

Tupou sat down with RugbyPass and Rugby.com.au post-game, opening up about the move to Parisian club Racing 92 in France’s Top 14. The tighthead had only ever played club rugby in Australia for the Reds, Melbourne Rebels and NSW Waratahs.

“I didn’t realise I needed that change to go to France,” Tupou said, speaking candidly about the benefits of that move abroad. The now 72-Test prop returned to Australia after the European season and has so far featured in every Wallabies Test.

“If you’re in an environment with Taniela Tupou and you can make him care about the environment and make him feel cared for, that’s when I’ve seen it… when I see him fully engaged in a group that he cares about,” Turinui added.

“One thing about some of the leaders in the group, [captain] Harry Wilson, whatever people say about play, whatever, I’ve never seen a guy care more about the group, care more about the jersey, be so humble to go out there [and] give everything.

“[Joseph-Aukuso] Suaalii as well, similar. Those two guys. This is a group, Joe Schmidt’s brought it in, that care about the Wallaby jersey, care about connection to fans, care about each other. There’s lots of improvement to come in their footy and rugby and whatever.

“But if that’s your base as a Wallaby group, there’s so much you can do I think.”