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Watch: Tongan Thor scores frantic Wallabies try after pirouette confuses Italians


Taniela Tupou of Australia touches down to score their third try during the international friendly between Italy and Australia at Stadio Euganeo on November 17, 2018 in Padova, Italy. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
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Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou dazzled his way through the Italian defence in rather bizarre fashion with some unscripted, off-the-cuff moves to stretch the Wallabies lead to an unassailable 21-0.

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The ‘Tongan Thor’ performed a pirouette before running backward, drawing the Italian defence forward in a game of tag. He circled back around David Pocock, using the Number 8 as a blocker, before drawing in three Italians in and offloading with one hand to another dancing Wallaby, Jack Dempsey.

Dempsey dodged a couple of defenders before getting a return ball back to Tupou off the deck, who broke through a couple of Italian defenders to score the unorthodox try. The bizarre play may have been called back for an unobstruction, but was left to stand.

The Wallabies went on to grind out a 26-7 win on the back of tries to a double to Marika Koroibete and one try to Tupou.

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Phantom 46 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

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