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Taniela Tupou lights fuse on 2nd Test with remarks about Ellis Genge

By PA
Taniela Tupou of the Wallabies looks on during The Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and Argentina Pumas at QCB Stadium on September 25, 2021 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Taniela Tupou has lit the fuse for a thunderous collision with Ellis Genge when Australia face England in Saturday’s second Test by revealing they will be united by a mutual desire to “smash” their rival.

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Dubbed the ‘Tongan Thor’, the bulldozing 21 stones 4lbs Tupou has been restored to the Wallabies’ front row after missing the 30-28 victory in the series opener because of a calf injury.

It sets up an explosive head to head with Genge, the combative England prop who will set the emotional intensity for Eddie Jones’s tourists at Suncorp Stadium.

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“It’s not personal, but it is personal. I will do what is best for the team but when you get out there you want to be better than your opposition,” Tupou said.

“Ellis Genge is going to come out there and try to give it to me and smash me. I will do exactly the same thing. I want to give it to him. We will see what happens out there.

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“I have heard a lot of talk about him. I saw him absolutely kill it in the English comp with his team and he has captained his side.

“As a loosehead, he can run the ball, he can tackle and he can scrum. This week if he is starting, it will be the first time I have played him. It will be a big challenge but I need to focus on myself and what I can do.”

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Tupou’s bulldozing carrying has been a feature of Wallabies highlights reels, but coach Dave Rennie insists any tackle-busting runs are considered as a welcome addition to his core responsibility.

“Taniela can certainly carry. He’s got good footwork and he’s amazingly explosive for a big man. He can hike,” Rennie said.

“The scrum is the big thing. He hasn’t played a lot of rugby lately. We want really good set piece from him initially and anything else will be a bonus. If he can give us some go forward and quicker ball, that will help.”

Tupou is one of five changes made by Australia for the second Test, all of them enforced by injury or suspension.

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Second row Matt Philip replaces Darcy Swain, who has been banned for two weeks after head butting Jonny Hill at Optus Stadium.

Centre Hunter Paisami, wing Tom Wright and full-back Jordan Petaia are also drafted into the starting XV with Australia wearing their First Nations jersey for the first time this year.

Rennie has braced his Wallabies for niggle from England after believing they deliberately targeted Swain in the first Test, primarily through Hill who shoved his lock rival in the face early in the match.

“The officials will be pretty sharp around it. It was surprising that the first offence, the push in the face that was pretty aggressive, wasn’t seen by any of the officials,” Rennie said.

“If it had been I think it would have been dealt with and Darcy wouldn’t have been facing the judiciary. Everyone’s awareness around that is a little sharper now.”

Australia team to face England at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on Saturday July 9, KO 10:55 BST:

J Petaia, T Wright, H Paisami, S Kerevi, M Koroibete, N Lolesio, N White, A Bell, D Porecki, T Tupou, M Philip, C Neville, R Leota, M Hooper (capt), R Valetini.

Replacements: F Fainga’a, S Sio, J Slipper, N Frost, P Samu, J Gordon, J O’Connor, I Perese.

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S
Spew_81 45 minutes ago
'He wants players to be able to play four positions': Former All Black critiques Robertson's strategy

I’m not making it up regarding to Hansen’s intentions for the 10 jersey for the All Blacks in regards to McKenzie.


Lima Sopoaga retired in 2020.


McKenzie started in the third All Blacks vs France test in Dunedin in 2018. Hansen started McKenzie at 10 and put Mo’unga on the bench: Damian McKenzie's 24 point game! + Rieko Ioane hat trick: All Blacks vs France 2018 » allblacks.com.


Or see this article just before the match: Damian McKenzie takes hold of All Blacks No 10 jersey while Richie Mo’unga looms large | Stuff.


Damian is coming along nicely," Hansen told All Blacks TV. "He has shown he can play genuine test rugby as a fullback and the other night he put in a good stint at first-five for us.”


Hansen was giving Mo’unga a raw deal at the same time:


Hansen has indicated that Mo'unga will get a decent amount of game time, despite missing out on a starting spot. "Richie will get his shot off the bench,” said Hansen. "He has a strong ability to drive the team when he has been given an opportunity, so we are extremely confident he can do the job."


Mo’unga only got a real look in when McKenzie got badly injured and couldn’t make RWC 2019.


Hansen wanted B Barrett at 10 and saw McKenzie as the next option with Mo’unga in third place, in case of injury.

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J
JW 2 hours ago
'He wants players to be able to play four positions': Former All Black critiques Robertson's strategy

Yeah I agree Hansen loved Beaudy way too much. Don’t see what that has to do with your statement of Dmac though.


I think you’re doing that thing where you make stuff up to fit the current picture you’re trying to paint.

But Hansen clearly wanted McKenzie at 15 (probably to take over at 10 later, like B Barrett did). So Cruden was on the outer.

Dmac had never been used as a starting 10 at any level by the point Lima had retired. Mo’unga took over, not Dmac.


Cruden was given the 10 jersey post 2015. He got injured in his second game, lost his jersey after that, but was still second to Barrett. Yes, many thought he should have been given it back (and that he should have got it back straight qaway), but Dmac wasn’t even in the picture at this point so you’re completly off track with those statements you’ve made.


That was the only occasion Dmac played 10, he was always at 15 in that period you mention.

After Cruden as dropped, Mo’unga was the only ‘knock out game’ test 10 New Zealand had. I guess Hansen sold them the idea that McKenzie was the way forward at 10, while Foster thought he could make B Barrett into ‘knock out game’ test 10? Who knows the thought process that went on.


Good job they cleaned the Board out.

Cruden was the first five version of Ethan Blackadder, he was not dropped, he couldn’t regain his place after injury and he said that his injuries were a big factor in leaving.


Hansen had nothing to do with McKenzie at 10.


That you comment about the board in this discussion is enlightening Spew!


Nothing you’ve replied with contradicts when I said about the inaccuracy of those highlighted statements. Bias is sending you waaay off track.


The facet I could agree on (not that you’ve really made the point) would be that by delaying bringing Mo’unga into the side, and instead continuing with Lima (or Barrett if you want to make Lima 1 and Richie 2), he cut short Richies prep for RWC 2019. It would indeed be a lot of pressure to handle being given the 10 jersey a few months out from a WC.


And ofc the old clicks penchants for dual playmakers and thinking Barrett can be a 10 (you’re preaching to the choir, just with bad basis of facts).

65 Go to comments
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