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'I'd definitely start with him': Eddie Jones backs out of favour Wallaby superstar
reporting from Sydney
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Former Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones has thrown his support behind out-of-favour prop Taniela Tupou, insisting the powerhouse front-rower should start for Australia to give them a crucial early edge in the third Test against the Lions.
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The Lions have already won the series, but the Wallabies will be eager to avoid a whitewash in Sydney against the touring side after doing everything but win in the second Test in Melbourne.
Speaking on the Rugby Unity podcast with David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie, the 65-year-old singled out Tupou as a game-breaker the Wallabies cannot afford to leave out of contention – or even on the bench.
Tupou, who is in a run of mediocre form in Super Rugby and headed to Racing 92 in France, hasn’t featured for the Wallabies against the Lions but has played them twice on tour for the Waratahs and the First Nations & Pasifika XV.
“I’d definitely start with him,” Jones said. “He gives you something extra at the start of the game, and from Australia’s point of view, they have to get into the game early. I think Tupou does that.”
Jones, who led the Wallabies to a disastrous 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign before exiting in October that year, also backed code-hopping star Joseph Suaalii to be used more aggressively in attack. The 21-year-old impressed Jones during his brief stint with the national side, including the first two Tests against the Lions, where he looked dangerous when the Wallabies were able to get him the ball.
“I’d also be inclined to play Suaalii,” Jones added. “I reckon they missed a couple of opportunities to get him one-on-one with Bundee Aki.
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“At the end of the game, they had Owen Farrell at 13 and Bundee at 12, and there was a lineout around the 45-metre mark in that situation. They need to try to get Suaalii into those one-on-one contests early, with early ball. You saw what he could do when he got it – he’s a powerful runner.”
