Tupou released from Wallabies to play in Tahs-Lions clash
Million-dollar man Taniela Tupou has a fight on his hands to play in the Test series for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions after the big prop was released back to the Waratahs for their clash with the Lions on Saturday.
The Wallabies announced on social media on Monday morning that Tupou would leave their camp and re-join the Tahs to prepare for their match against the Lions at Allianz Stadium.
It ensures Tupou won't be part of the Wallabies' team to play against Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday, which gets named on Friday.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is set to name his strongest team for the warm-up clash against the Fijians, which duly points to Tupou being down the pecking order of props and in danger of missing the first Test team against the Lions in Brisbane on July 19.
The $1.1 million tighthead prop endured a poor season with the Waratahs and even spoke candidly about preparing himself for the bad news of not being picked in the Wallabies squad for the Lions tour.
That didn't eventuate, with Tupou named in Schmidt's 36-man squad last week. But his standing as a first-choice player in the Test side appears to have changed.
The 145kg prop has a perfect opportunity to impress Schmidt against the Lions, however, who are also expected to name a Test-strength side for the Waratahs.
Lions coach Andy Farrell will show his cards on Monday morning when he names a side to meet the Reds in Brisbane on Wednesday night.
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It was a revealing play by coach Joe Schmidt before Australia's Test against Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday and ahead of Tupou's club move to France next season. The NSW Waratahs will benefit from the 58-Test prop's presence in Sydney, the second Lions fixture of the week following their clash with the Queensland Reds in Brisbane. And, even if he has slid down the Wallabies' pecking order, it will give Tupou a chance to shine before Schmidt names his squad to face the Lions in a three-Test series starting in Brisbane on July 19. "It's great for the Tahs, good for Australian rugby and the Lions are going to have a handful dealing with him," McReight said. "I can't wait to watch him. He's a great player, he's coming together, honing what he needs to do. "I have no doubt he'll come back firing and ready to go." McReight played alongside Tupou at the Reds, where he emerged as a teen sensation and became one of the world's most explosive and talented props. Rugby Australia fought hard to keep him on the books, with Tupou eventually signing with the Melbourne Rebels then moving to the Waratahs for this season after the Victorian club folded. Tupou is reportedly set to sign with Racing 92, where outspoken president Jacky Lorenzetti has never shied away from criticism of his big-money recruits. But McReight hopes Tupou, 29, will benefit from the experience even if the foreign posting leaves him on the Test outer. "It's a tough one, right? You have a lot of young tightheads coming through and he's been one of the best tightheads in the world," he said. "It's tricky, but hopefully he goes over and gains some new experiences and perspective. "It leaves the door open for some new talent to come through and hopefully Nella comes back a better person, better player." Tupou isn't the only one holding out hope for a Wallabies call-up, with recent Super Rugby Pacific champion James O'Connor spotted training at Ballymore in Brisbane on Monday. The veteran playmaker enjoyed a one-season cameo with the Crusaders, with his bench form enough to put him back into the Wallabies conversation before he was overlooked by Schmidt in the wider squad. O'Connor, 35 next week, will join the Leicester Tigers next season. Long-time teammate Fraser McReight hopes Taniela Tupou flourishes on his French sojourn after the enigmatic prop had a Wallabies reality check. Tupou on Monday was released from the Wallabies camp to instead join the NSW Waratahs ahead of the Super Rugby club's Saturday clash with the British & Irish Lions. It was a revealing play by coach Joe Schmidt before Australia's Test against Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday and ahead of Tupou's club move to France next season. The NSW Waratahs will benefit from the 58-Test prop's presence in Sydney, the second Lions fixture of the week following their clash with the Queensland Reds in Brisbane. And, even if he has slid down the Wallabies' pecking order, it will give Tupou a chance to shine before Schmidt names his squad to face the Lions in a three-Test series starting in Brisbane on July 19. "It's great for the Tahs, good for Australian rugby and the Lions are going to have a handful dealing with him," McReight said. "I can't wait to watch him. He's a great player, he's coming together, honing what he needs to do. "I have no doubt he'll come back firing and ready to go." McReight played alongside Tupou at the Reds, where he emerged as a teen sensation and became one of the world's most explosive and talented props. Rugby Australia fought hard to keep him on the books, with Tupou eventually signing with the Melbourne Rebels then moving to the Waratahs for this season after the Victorian club folded. Tupou is reportedly set to sign with Racing 92, where outspoken president Jacky Lorenzetti has never shied away from criticism of his big-money recruits. But McReight hopes Tupou, 29, will benefit from the experience even if the foreign posting leaves him on the Test outer. "It's a tough one, right? You have a lot of young tightheads coming through and he's been one of the best tightheads in the world," he said. "It's tricky, but hopefully he goes over and gains some new experiences and perspective. "It leaves the door open for some new talent to come through and hopefully Nella comes back a better person, better player." Tupou isn't the only one holding out hope for a Wallabies call-up, with recent Super Rugby Pacific champion James O'Connor spotted training at Ballymore in Brisbane on Monday. The veteran playmaker enjoyed a one-season cameo with the Crusaders, with his bench form enough to put him back into the Wallabies conversation before he was overlooked by Schmidt in the wider squad. O'Connor, 35 next week, will join the Leicester Tigers next season.
