'There's a big advantage': Wallabies brace for torrid battles in Ireland clash
SPOTLIGHT: How to best weaponise Taniela Tupou is the Wallabies’ luxury selection headache ahead of a fierce forwards challenge in Saturday’s sold-out showdown with Ireland in Sydney.
With veteran James Slipper emerging from retirement and Tupou and Angus Bell returning from stints in Europe, the Wallabies suddenly have an embarrassment of prop riches at their disposal.
But Australia’s new forwards coach John Ulugia knows the hosts will need them in a gruelling Nations Championship campaign as they face Ireland and fellow scrummaging heavyweights France and Italy on successive Saturdays.
Bell is adamant he has returned from a six-month sabbatical with Ulster a superior player, Tupou remains one of the most destructive tighthead props in international rugby, and the 151-capped Slipper is easily the most experienced.
“There’s a big advantage to playing over in Europe,” Ulugia said on Monday.
“You’ve seen a lot of developments through some of the guys, especially in the tight five, who go over and really flourish in their careers in the set-piece areas.
“So I’m looking to lean on Nella’s [Tupou’s] experience over the last 10 years of his Super [career], but also his last year with Racing 92. Same as Belly.”
Paris-based Racing 92 have used Tupou with great effect coming off the bench for the last half hour or so of games in the French Top 14 league.
The 148kg powerhouse’s ability to cause havoc against tiring opposition was best evident in a two-try cameo against Lyon, and Ulugia says it’s a nice problem to have weighing up whether or not to start Tupou.
“The Top 14 competition is quite unique. Usually, what they will have is their best scrummaging players on the bench, obviously to finish games,” he said.
“Obviously, there are different areas of the game that you have to look at as well. Scrummaging for his position is a big one.
“But then also what he offers around the field with the ball in hand, we saw last year against the English team, where he can really put some good shots on the defence too.
“We’ve got Allan [Alaalatoa] as well as Nell in that position. It’s just about finding the balance around what teams are playing and who fits best to start or come off the bench.”
The story continues below…
Whichever way head coach Joe Schmidt goes, Ulugia accepts that the set-piece battles with not only Ireland, but also France and Italy will go a long way towards determining the Wallabies’ outcomes.
“The Irish are well known for their scrummaging. They have a lot of combinations there in their front row, the bulk of them being at Leinster,” he said.
“So there are obviously challenges there. What we’ve had already is a good week together, and then we’re just going to tighten the screws there for this weekend.
“The Italians pose a different threat in scrums. So we’ve got a lot of work to do, but we’re ready for the challenge and excited for it.”
Register your interest to receive priority updates on RWC27 ticket releases. Don't miss out, stay in the loop!
