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Wallabies star tips ‘freak of nature’ Taniela Tupou to fire against Lions
By AAP
In a chilling warning to the British and Irish Lions, Wallabies prop Angus Bell is predicting front-row “freak” Taniela Tupou to emerge from his slumber and wreak havoc during the looming showpiece series.
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Tupou’s fluctuating form, even by his own admission, has been one of the major discussion points during the Super Rugby Pacific season.
The million-dollar behemoth made the startling confession last month that at times he feels like he’s forgotten how to play the game, so low on confidence Tupou has been in 2025.
But Bell, his NSW Waratahs and Wallabies teammate and front-row partner, believes the sleeping giant is ready to roar against the Lions and says “of course” Tupou should be named in Joe Schmidt’s squad next week.
“We know how important Taniela is for Australian rugby. If we’re going to compete and beat the Lions, Taniela will be in and around the team and the squad,” Bell said.
“We know how important he is and what he can do when he’s in his career-best form.
“He’s working really hard at NSW and he’s working really hard at camps to get himself there, and we believe in Taniela – he’s a mate, he’s a freak of nature and we all know that.
“So, look, he’s happy and he’s looking forward to the Tests and he’s as excited as everyone else in Australian rugby. It’s a pretty cool time and ‘Nela’ will be awesome this year, I reckon.”
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The scrum and set piece have traditionally been a huge strength of the Lions, but Australia’s front-row depth is fast emerging as a weapon for the Wallabies too.
Bell and Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa were both named in the Super Rugby Pacific team of the season, while Tupou at his destructive best and veteran James Slipper, now Australia’s most-capped player ever, shape as a formidable threat to the Lions.
“It’s good for Joe because he’s got a lot of selection headaches, which is awesome for Australian rugby,” Bell said.
“It’s now become a real strength of Australia that not every position is locked down, so everyone’s just got to keep fighting for positions, and as a squad if we do that … when the squad gets announced, it will put Australia in good stead against the Lions.”
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The Wallabies are, however, also bracing for a different style of play from the best of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales than the typically dour northern hemisphere brand of yesteryear.
“They’ll definitely play an expansive game,” Bell said.
“I feel like European rugby’s come a long way in that sense.
“They used to be very heavily set-piece orientated. Now they’re moving the ball just like New Zealand would.
“So, look, I feel like they’re a similar team to what we play down here in the southern hemisphere and they’ll be extremely challenging.
“We know the stars they have in their team.”
Schmidt plans to name a squad of up to 40 players for the Wallabies’ first Test of the year – against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6 – once the last Australian team standing is eliminated from the Super Rugby Pacific finals.
The ACT Brumbies face the table-topping Chiefs in the semi-finals in Hamilton on Saturday, meaning a squad could be announced as early as Sunday or Monday.
The first Test is in Brisbane on July 19.
