Latest news with #TanielaTupou
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
White and Tupou to start for Wallabies in third Lions Test
Veteran scrum-half Nic White and hulking prop Taniela Tupou were handed starts Thursday for the Wallabies' third Test against the British and Irish Lions, but influential flanker Rob Valetini was ruled out. White replaces Jake Gordon for his 73rd and last Test after announcing his retirement from the international game following the clash in Sydney on Saturday. He is one of two changes among the backs with Dylan Pietsch in for left wing Harry Potter, who pulled a hamstring in their epic 29-26 second Test defeat in Melbourne last weekend, where they blew an 18-point lead. Valetini was also injured in the match, failing to return for the second half after a calf injury that kept him out of the 27-19 first Test defeat in Brisbane flared up again. His absence is another setback for Australia with first-choice tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa already ruled out with a shoulder problem. Tom Hooper comes in for Valetini, linking up with Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson in the loose forward trio, while Tupou replaces Alaalatoa to partner fellow prop James Slipper and hooker David Porecki. Nick Frost and Will Skelton retain their spots as the locks. The starting XV is otherwise unchanged for the dead-rubber Test, which culminates the Lions' nine-match Australia tour. White will link up with Tom Lynagh in the halves, with the 22-year-old given another chance to grow in the No.10 jersey after being thrust into the role this month. Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii are again selected as the midfield pairing for the sixth straight Test, with Max Jorgensen on the other wing and Tom Wright at fullback. With the series already lost, Australia are playing for pride, desperate to prevent a whitewash by Andy Farrell's dominant side. "The squad was certainly deflated after the gut-wrenching end to last week's Test in Melbourne, but they have started to gather momentum in the back half of the week and will be ready to go again on Saturday," said Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt. "The support in Brisbane and Melbourne helped to lift the squad, and I know the support this weekend in Sydney will again help to lift the players in the high-pressure moments that we know are coming." Australia (15-1): Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch; Tom Lynagh, Nic White; Harry Wilson (capt), Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper; Will Skelton, Nick Frost; Taniela Tupou, David Porecki, James Slipper Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway. mp
The 42
an hour ago
- Sport
- The 42
Schmidt's Wallabies make four changes for final Lions Test
WALLABIES BOSS JOE Schmidt has made four changes to his starting XV for Saturday's third Test against the Lions in Sydney [KO 11am Irish time, Sky Sports]. 35-year-old scrum-half Nic White comes into the team for what will be his final Test appearance before retiring from international rugby. Taniela Tupou starts at tighthead prop in the injury-enforced absence of Allan Alaalatoa, while Tom Hooper comes into the back row after the explosive Rob Valetini was ruled out due to injury. Advertisement This will be Tupou's first appearance in this Lions series, with the powerful prop set to join Racing 92 in France next season. The final change to the Wallabies' XV sees Dylan Pietsch start on the wing after Harry Potter was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Schmidt has opted for a 5/3 bench split, with tighthead prop Zane Nonggorr and wing/fullback Andrew Kellaway coming into the matchday 23. Australia (v Lions): 15. Tom Wright 14. Max Jorgensen 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 12. Len Ikitau 11. Dylan Pietsch 10. Tom Lynagh 9. Nic White 1. James Slipper 2. David Porecki 3. Taniela Tupou 4. Nick Frost 5. Will Skelton 6. Tom Hooper 7. Fraser McReight 8. Harry Wilson (captain) Replacements: 16. Billy Pollard 17. Angus Bell 18. Zane Nonggorr 19. Jeremy Williams 20. Langi Gleeson 21. Tate McDermott 22. Ben Donaldson 23. Andrew Kellaway Referee: Nika Amashukeli [GRU].
San Francisco Chronicle
2 hours ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Tupou and White return as Wallabies aim to avoid a British and Irish Lions' series sweep
SYDNEY (AP) — Taniela Tupou has been recalled at tighthead and Nic White will return for his final international appearance in a reworked Wallabies lineup trying to prevent the British and Irish Lions completing a 3-0 series sweep on Saturday night. Australia coach Joe Schmidt on Thursday unveiled three injury-enforced and one tactical change to his starting lineup and another two on the bench after the contentious, last-gasp 29-26 loss in the second test at Melbourne last weekend. Tupou replaces the injured Allan Ala'alatoa and will combine with hooker David Porecki and 146-test veteran James Slipper in the front row. Tom Hooper moved into the starting lineup on the side of the scrum to replace Rob Valetini and join a backrow containing No. 8 and captain Harry Wilson and openside flanker Fraser McReight. White missed selection in the first two tests agains the Lions but has won a starting spot over Jake Gordon at No. 9 and will form another new partnership with flyhalf Tom Lynagh in one of two changes to the backline. It will be the 72-test veteran's last test before retirement. Dylan Pietsch replaced Harry Potter on the left wing. 'The squad was certainly deflated after the gut-wrenching end to last week's test in Melbourne,' Schmidt said, 'but they have started to gather momentum in the back half of the week and will be ready to go again on Saturday.' Lions coach Andy Farrell was due to announce his squad later Thursday. The Lions are now 8-0 in Australia, including the victory in the first test in Brisbane, the second test in Melbourne, wins over Super Rugby franchises Western Force,Queensland Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies and two invitational teams. Hugo Keenan's last-gasp try in Melbourne capped an extraordinary comeback win for the British and Irish Lions in the second test last, played in front of 90,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Lions rallied from 23-5 down in the first half to win the match and seal an unassailable 2-0 lead. Wallabies captain Wilson remonstrated with the match officials, asserting that replacement flanker Carlo Tizzano had illegally been taken out of play as he stood over the ball. But Keenan's try stood. In 2001 and 2013 the Lions lost in Melbourne after winning the first match of a three-test series against the Wallabies and those series went to a decider in Sydney. Squads: ___
Fox Sports
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Tupou and White return as Wallabies aim to avoid a British and Irish Lions' series sweep
Associated Press SYDNEY (AP) — Taniela Tupou has been recalled at tighthead and Nic White will return for his final international appearance in a reworked Wallabies lineup trying to prevent the British and Irish Lions completing a 3-0 series sweep on Saturday night. Australia coach Joe Schmidt on Thursday unveiled three injury-enforced and one tactical change to his starting lineup and another two on the bench after the contentious, last-gasp 29-26 loss in the second test at Melbourne last weekend. Tupou replaces the injured Allan Ala'alatoa and will combine with hooker David Porecki and 146-test veteran James Slipper in the front row. Tom Hooper moved into the starting lineup on the side of the scrum to replace Rob Valetini and join a backrow containing No. 8 and captain Harry Wilson and openside flanker Fraser McReight. White missed selection in the first two tests agains the Lions but has won a starting spot over Jake Gordon at No. 9 and will form another new partnership with flyhalf Tom Lynagh in one of two changes to the backline. It will be the 72-test veteran's last test before retirement. Dylan Pietsch replaced Harry Potter on the left wing. 'The squad was certainly deflated after the gut-wrenching end to last week's test in Melbourne,' Schmidt said, 'but they have started to gather momentum in the back half of the week and will be ready to go again on Saturday.' Lions coach Andy Farrell was due to announce his squad later Thursday. The Lions are now 8-0 in Australia, including the victory in the first test in Brisbane, the second test in Melbourne, wins over Super Rugby franchises Western Force,Queensland Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies and two invitational teams. Hugo Keenan's last-gasp try in Melbourne capped an extraordinary comeback win for the British and Irish Lions in the second test last, played in front of 90,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Lions rallied from 23-5 down in the first half to win the match and seal an unassailable 2-0 lead. Wallabies captain Wilson remonstrated with the match officials, asserting that replacement flanker Carlo Tizzano had illegally been taken out of play as he stood over the ball. But Keenan's try stood. In 2001 and 2013 the Lions lost in Melbourne after winning the first match of a three-test series against the Wallabies and those series went to a decider in Sydney. ___ Squads: Australia: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Lynagh, Nick White; Harry Wilson (captain), Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, David Porecki, James Slipper. Reserves: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Wiliams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway. ___ AP rugby: recommended Item 1 of 3
Toronto Star
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Tupou and White return as Wallabies aim to avoid a British and Irish Lions' series sweep
SYDNEY (AP) — Taniela Tupou has been recalled at tighthead and Nic White will return for his final international appearance in a reworked Wallabies lineup trying to prevent the British and Irish Lions completing a 3-0 series sweep on Saturday night. Australia coach Joe Schmidt on Thursday unveiled three injury-enforced and one tactical change to his starting lineup and another two on the bench after the contentious, last-gasp 29-26 loss in the second test at Melbourne last weekend.
