Wallabies release Taniela Tupou to NSW Waratahs to take on British & Irish Lions

Ahead of their critical Test against Fiji this weekend, giant prop Taniela Tupou has been released by the Wallabies and sent back to the Waratahs for their match against the Lions.

In a major development ahead of Australia’s critical Test against Fiji this weekend, giant prop Taniela Tupou has been released from the Wallabies’ training camp and sent back to the Waratahs for their tour match against the British and Irish Lions.

Named as the starting tighthead prop in Australia’s last match against Scotland on their 2024 end of season tour to Europe, Tupou has lost his spot in the squad for the Wallabies’ only warm-up match for the Lions, against Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday.

Struggling to reproduce his best form this year, Tupou will instead return to Sydney and rejoin the Waratahs ahead of their match against the Lions at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Taniela Tupou has been struggling for form this season.

Nicknamed ‘the Tongan Thor’, Tupou has made 58 appearances for the Wallabies since making his Test debut in 2017 but his prospects of adding to his caps during the upcoming three-Test series against the Lions now look to be in jeopardy.

With Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa regarded as a near-certainty to be selected as the starting tighthead prop, Tupou was vying with Queensland’s Zane Nonggorr and Tom Robertson, who can pack down on either side of the scrum, as the backup.

Nonggorr was not released from the Wallabies’ training camp for the Reds’ match against the Lions in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Robertson was let go so he could play for the Western Force against the Lions last weekend and had a storming game, despite his team’s heavy 54-7 loss.

Tom Robertson has a strong game for the Western Force against the British and Irish Lions

One of six Force players who ran out against the Lions in Perth, Robertson returned to the Wallabies camp on Sunday and was given a clean bill of health after undergoing a fitness check.

Robertson hasn’t played a Test for Australia in three years but has put himself back in the picture for the series opener at Suncorp Stadium on July 19 and is desperate for a recall.

“I’d give my left testicle to do it again,” he said. “But we’ll see how we go.

“Just to be in the squad is an honour, to try and push for a gig in that 23 would be unreal. I’d come close last year being in the squad for a bit and then had a few injuries and didn’t make the 23.”

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will announce his squad to face Fiji on Friday afternoon.

Tupou’s Wallabies team mate Fraser McReight said he expected ‘Nela’ to produce a big performance against the Lions to press his claims for reinclusion in the Test squad.

“I think it’s great for the Tahs, good for Australian rugby and the Lions are going to have a handful dealing with him. I can’t wait to watch him,” McReight said.

“He’s a great player, he’s just coming together and he’s honing what he needs to do, but I have no doubt that he will come back and he’ll be firing ready to go. But, obviously his first job is to put that light blue jersey on and go against the Lions for the Tahs.”

Tupou’s future beyond this year remains uncertain after reports he has signed to play club rugby in France for Racing 92.

Wallabies lock Will Skelton also plays in Europe and McReight said Tupou may even emerge as an improved player for the experience.

Taniela Tupou will play for the Waratahs in their tour match against the Lions. Picture: Getty Images

“You have a lot of young tightheads coming through and he’s been one of the best tightheads in the world so it’s tricky,” McReight said.

“Hopefully he goes over there and gains some new experiences and new perspective and whether or not he comes back, I don’t know what’s going to happen there but it leaves the door open for some new talent to come through and hopefully Nela can come back as a better person and better player.”

Waratahs defence coach Lachlan McCaffrey said the return of Tupou had go

iven the whole team a huge lift ahead.

“It is not just what he adds in the scrum,” McCaffrey said.

“I is his energy and enthusiasm around the place. He loves playing for the Waratahs, and the boys love playing with him.

“The whole rugby world in general is excited. There is a real buzz about the place. Hopefully, we make sure all the loyal NSW fans who come out, that we give them a night to remember.”

Anzacs named: Four All Blacks to face the Lions

In a real life case of be careful what you wish for, the British and Irish Lions’ will come face-to-face with at least four All Blacks, including 2023 World Cup finalist Shannon Frizell, when they tackle a combined Australian and New Zealand team at Adelaide Oval on July 12, a week before the first Test with the Wallabies.

While the full lineup for the first AUNZ Invitational XV to play the Lions in 36 years has yet to be confirmed, team officials have preselected four All Blacks, including Frizell.

Capped 33 times by the All Blacks, Frizell is one of the world’s premier backrowers and will prove a handful for the tourists.

Born in Tonga, the 31-year-old made his Test debut for New Zealand in 2018 and went on to play for the All Blacks at the last two World Cups, including 2023 when he started in the final against South Africa at the Stade de France in Paris.

Rugby coach Les Kiss and former Wallaby, Phil Waugh, with the brand new AUNZ jersey, in Adelaide to promote the British and Irish Lions tour game to be played at Adelaide Oval next month. Picture: Dean Martin

Frizell is also well known outside of rugby circles in Australia because his brother Tyson plays in the NRL and has represented the Kangaroos as well as Tonga.

Also selected were David Havili, who captained the Crusaders to win this season’s Super Rugby Pacific, and was a team mate of Frizell’s at the last World Cup.

Shaun Stevenson, a try-scoring fullback who has represented the All Blacks and the Maori All Blacks, is also included along with electric halfback Folau Fakatava.

The selection of the four international standard Kiwis will go a long way to appeasing the Lions, who have complained about the lack of depth in some of the opponents in Australia after thrashing Western Force 54-7 on the weekend.

The combined AUNZ team the Lions will face at Adelaide Oval is set to be stacked across all positions and will provide a massive challenge to the tourists just seven days before the first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane on July 19.

New Zealand's Shannon Frizell is one of four All Blacks in the AUNZ XV. Picture: AFP

While more players will be announced in due course, the coaches have already been revealed and include Les Kiss, who will take over as Wallabies boss next year, and Ian Foster, who was in charge of the All Blacks at the last World Cup in France.

“There is plenty of excitement about this fixture, and that’s been demonstrated by the number of quality international players eager to be involved,” he said.

“We are delighted with the quality of the New Zealand contingent announced today and look forward to naming more players as the squad comes together,” Rugby Australia’s Director of High Performance Peter Horne said.

“The last time the Lions played a combined Australia-New Zealand side, it went right down to the wire - and we’re hoping to deliver another competitive contest.”

Originally published as Wallabies release Taniela Tupou to NSW Waratahs to take on British & Irish Lions