Lopeti Timani looking to press claims to be Wallabies’ long-term answer at No. 8 in Argentina test

HE was once known as Wycliff Palu’s mini-me and Lopeti Timani wants to make his first claim to be the Wallabies’ long-term answer at No. 8 on Perth on Saturday night.

Lopeti Timani in Perth ahead of the Wallabies clash with Argentina.

THE Tongan powerhouse once known as Wycliff Palu’s mini-me wants to make his first persuasive audition to become the Wallabies’ long-term solution at No.8 in Perth on Saturday night.

Lopeti Timani has bigger dreams than the excitement of being a backrow bench weapon for his debut in this must-win Test against Argentina.

There will be a void to fill for a specialist No.8 when David Pocock starts his year off in December.

Timani’s imposing 125kg frame will be trialled there at some stage and he will join a rich lineage of Tongan stormtroopers including Willie Ofahengaue, Toutai Kefu and Palu.

For now, Timani, 25, is just grateful he will get to follow in the footsteps of giant sibling Sitaleki, who played 18 Tests for the Wallabies between 2011-13.

Lopeti Timani in Perth ahead of the Wallabies clash with Argentina.

Before No.8 Palu retired in July after 58 Tests, he gave a hint that “Timani Time” would arrive with all its thunderous runs and hits.

Flanker Dean Mumm, who is approaching his 50th Test, said there was only one thing worse than not being able to avoid young Timani in contact drills at NSW training in 2011-12.

“It was being double Timani-ed, because they are both such massive units,” Mumm said.

“I’ve noticed how much Pet has grown since as a player and how he interacts with the group so I’m really pumped to see what he can do.”

Former Test No.8s Scott Higginbotham and Adam Thomson have limited Timani’s minutes in the No.8 role at the Melbourne Rebels over the past three seasons but he has always groomed his skills for the position.

“I would love playing No.8 where I think I can read the game a bit more from behind the scrum and maybe save the legs a bit more for carrying the ball,” Timani said.

Sitaleki is now with French club Montpellier.

If the Wallabies had not coming knocking, Lopeti would likely have bowed to the overtures of Tongan coach Toutai Kefu, linked with the Tongan Test side next year and sought his own club deal in Europe.

“Sita is very happy because after the Tests in June, he wasn’t happy I didn’t get selected in the squad,” Timani said.

“I’ve been waiting for the opportunity for a very long time and just want to prove everything I can do.’’

He has no immediate family in Australia but is feeling their support from afar.

“My brother has always helped me and it is very exciting, especially with my family back in Tonga being very proud of me,” Timani said.

The Wallabies have the firepower from the bench to finish the Perth Test strongly but it is curing the recent slow-start curse that is more pressing.

The Wallabies have trailed the All Blacks (20-3 and 15-6) and South Africa (14-3) at the 25-minute mark in their most recent Tests and only clawed back the latter.

The Pumas are a huge challenge because the seven-phase try they landed on the jaw of the All Blacks in the opening minutes in Hamilton last week had all the inside balls, confident pace and direct running they have sharpened in recent seasons.

Lopeti Timani at Wallabies training.

Wallabies skipper Stephen Moore is well aware of the extra dimensions to the Pumas’ threat but standing up to them at scrum time has not diminished.

“I know everyone talks a bit more about the way they attack and their backs but the scrum is still very central to the way they play, which is a big battle for us,” Moore said.

Moore took up coach Michael Cheika’s theme that the drought-breaking win over South Africa last weekend would hopefully free the Wallabies to play with less anxiety.

“When you don’t get the results you want, when it does swing around a bit, you can be a bit hesitant so just taking our opportunities more in attack is what we want,” Moore said.

Moore said the team had pinpointed Brisbane last week and Perth tonight as a way of restoring some of the gloss to the home season before a tough stretch of eight Tests on the road.