1
YouTube sensation Taniela Tupou, known as the Tongan Thor, will be residentially qualified to play for the Wallabies next week in time for the November 25 Test against Scotland in Edinburgh, putting him in line for a test match debut.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I’m eligible next week but it doesn’t mean nothing,” Tupou told the Courier Mail after flying into London to join the Wallabies squad.
“I’ll be giving training everything. If he (Cheika) thinks I’m ready now, that’s good … if he thinks I’ll be ready in two year’s time, I’ll wait two years.
“Guys like (prop) Sekope (Kepu) I grew up watching as a little boy in Tonga. Now I get to train with him, learn from him and hopefully I get the chance to play with him before he retires.”
It’s easy to forget Tupou is only 21 years of age, a spring chicken in terms of a prop, however the hype created by his YouTube highlights as a schoolboy put potentially put unrealistic expectations him.
“I want to change it so people are not saying ‘I saw you on a YouTube clip’ but ‘I saw you playing hard in a test match’,” Tupou said.
Tupou’s development pathway in Australia has been gradual, he started at Brothers Rugby Club in Brisbane where he spent a year playing premier grade club rugby in 2015. Tupou was an integral part of winning a club championship with Brothers in 2016, before winning the provincial title with Queensland Country in the National Rugby Championship this year.
Tupou’s introduction to Super Rugby has also been patient, after last year’s tough pre-season matchup against the Crusaders as a 19-year-old the Reds have been cautious. Tupou was tested against the vastly more experienced Owen Franks that night but was not ready for scrummaging at that level.
This season has seen more regular Super Rugby time for Tupou after an explosive showing of raw power in the Brisbane 10’s, remembered by most for putting Chiefs and All Blacks flanker Liam Messam into the stratosphere.
His role with the Reds is much more traditional for a prop. Seeing Tupou carry between 8-10 times, taking a mid-field crash or counter-attacking from fullback isn’t what he does for them – although everyone would like to see it.
ADVERTISEMENT
It is also not likely to be the role the Wallabies ask him to play either if he debuts next week. It will hopefully come with time as Taniela gets more comfortable at Super Rugby, which is why the best is yet to come – even though it seems we have been waiting for a while now.
Comments on RugbyPass
This team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to comments