Waratahs poised to sign Tupou, scrum guru lauds Thor’s ‘explosive power’

Star prop Taniela Tupou and new Wallabies winger Darby Lancaster are among a group of seven ex-Rebels players finalising deals to play for the Waratahs next season, easing supporter concern about a lack of recruitment action by NSW.

And 53-cap Tupou still hasn’t even come close to his full potential yet, according to former All Blacks scrum guru Mike Cron, who says he hasn’t coached anyone “more powerful” than the 135kg tighthead.

Question marks around the Waratahs’ front-row depth intensified on Tuesday with news that Harry Johnson-Holmes, a 92-game prop who debuted for NSW 2018, is moving to the Western Force, and Southern Districts prop Matt Gibbon switching from the Rebels to Queensland. The signings came after NSW also missed Carter Gordon, and farewelled four Wallabies at the end of the season.

But there is no panic at Daceyville, according to informed sources who are not able to comment due to the confidentiality of negotiations.

Tupou is very close to signing a deal to play for NSW, as is Isaac Kailea, who has emerged as a rising star at loosehead prop in his first two Tests against Wales this month.

Lancaster, the 21-year-old speedster who is set to be named for his Test debut against Georgia in Sydney on Saturday, is also in negotiations to return to NSW.

Taniela Tupou celebrates scoring a try against Wales in Sydney.Credit: Getty Images

The recent appointments of Dan McKellar as Waratahs coach, and director of performance Simon Raiwalui, proved pivotal in ramping up the recruitment of the Rebels players.

After Darren Coleman departed at the end of the Super Rugby season, the Waratahs were without a salesman and that uncertainty saw Gordon turn down a move to Sydney to sign with the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL. Other Rebels players also began exploring a mass migration to the Reds, including Wallabies back-rower Rob Leota.

Wallabies lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto is still set to return to the Reds but McKellar and Raiwalui appear to have convinced other stars to make the move to the Rugby Australia-owned Waratahs, including Lancaster, hooker Ethan Dobbins and flanker Brad Wilkin. Where Leota will end up remains uncertain but NSW are lobbying hard, according to informed sources.

McKellar is also recruiting from other states, with versatile Reds back Lawson Creighton set to move south and add depth at No.10.

Mike Cron (left) with All Blacks coaches and the Bledisloe Cup in 2016.Credit: Getty Images

Tupou, who was on a $1 million-a-year contract at the Rebels, will become one of the Tahs’ marquee faces and potentially link up with Test teammates Angus Bell and Dave Porecki, who are currently on the injured list.

Tupou scrummed strongly in two starts against Wales but is set to be rotated out for the Georgia clash on Saturday in Sydney.

Cron, who coached against Tupou in his 15-year career with New Zealand, said working with the 28 year-old in his new role on Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies staff had shown him the raw power of “Tongan Thor”, but he also believes he is not yet at his peak.

“He has got explosive power. I don’t think I have coached anyone who is more powerful. We just need to keep working on good technique and consistent technique,” Cron said.

Darby Lancaster at Wallabies training this week.Credit: Getty Images

“I reckon he has another big ceiling to get to. A lot of these boys have. They’re progressing well. I am delighted with how they’re progressing, but it’s just a start. A lot of them are pretty new to international rugby, so there’ll be some hard learnings along the way.”

Cron is also working with lineout coach Geoff Parling to fix the Wallabies’ maul defence, after Wales scored three tries in two Tests via the rolling maul. A “confrontational” Georgia will unquestionably look to exploit the weakness.

“We are chipping away between us two, plus the boys, on trying to shore that up a bit better,” Cron said. “The attitude is great. They bar up good. The boys are trying every bit with what they have got. What we have got to do is give them a bit more technique, a bit more training, try and help them. You have about two seconds to control it, after that you’re buggered.”

Meanwhile, the world champion Springboks will be without four major stars in their first Rugby Championship clash with the Wallabies in Brisbane on August 10.

South Africa announced Pieter Steph Du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert and Cheslin Kolbe all suffered injuries in their drawn series with Ireland, and will miss at least the first clash in Australia.

Watch Wallabies v Georgia and New Zealand v Fiji this weekend streaming ad free, live and on demand on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport.