Tongan hitman Lopeti Timani the long-term answer to Wallabies’ search for a No. 8

HIS coach insists Lopeti Timani should tidy up by clipping off his rat’s tail but no one is prepared to tackle 125kg of Tongan hitman to do it for him.

Lopeti Timani and the rat tail.

HIS coach insists Lopeti Timani should tidy up by clipping off his rat’s tail but no one is prepared to tackle 125kg of Tongan hitman to do it for him.

Melbourne Rebels coach Tony McGahan said even teammates avoid head-to-head drills with the powerful Wallaby-in-waiting if they can.

“I can tell you no one wants to get in front of him at training and line up in his grid,” McGahan said.

“He rattles teeth most weeks.

“I had a word to him about cutting off his rat’s tail but no one is game to get that close with scissors because he’s a scary but very likeable individual.”

Lopeti Timani at Wallabies training.

Meet the long-term solution to the Wallabies search for a new No.8.

With David Pocock heading to a Japanese club and a sabbatical in December, his reign as the Wallabies’ makeshift No.8 has a maximum of nine Tests to run.

That is one of the reasons why Wallabies boss Michael Cheika wants to trial Timani’s thumping hits and hip-bumping gallops in the Test reserves on Saturday night against Argentina in Perth.

“We are very keen to give Lopeti an opportunity ... he’s been knocking lumps out of chaps at training,” Cheika said last week when Timani was the last man cut from the bench.

Yesterday, the impetus for a Timani debut against the mature, burly Pumas pack grew again.

“This 2016 team is a very new mix compared to the Rugby World Cup squad last year and we may have to debutant eight and nine this weekend,” the cryptic Cheika said.

The Tongan-born Timani, 25, is the most likely while young NSW Waratahs prop Tom Robertson is getting closer too.

Timani’s video highlights are imposing with smashing go-forward metres made one-pass off the ruck, body-banging tackles and pick-and-drive charges.

Lopeti Timani and the rat tail.

The videos all delete the careless handling blemishes and the skill areas he has to work on because Cheika himself let Timani leave the Waratahs for the Rebels after the 2013 season.

He has developed more consistency since.

Less obvious is the grunt Timani gives to a scrum because McGahan said his regular time at lock with the Rebels had proved his willingness to work.

“It’s a great position for any team to have a forward who can cover lock, No.8 and blindside flanker,” McGahan said.