If you are Waratahs coach Dan McKellar, Taniela Tupou was the dominant scrummager on the field against the Reds and should have been rewarded with at least two more penalties. If you’re the Reds he was angling in all night long, and illegally so.
Waratahs prop Taniela Tupou.Credit: Getty Images
The truth is somewhere in the middle but referee James Doleman certainly wasn’t inclined to judge in Tupou’s favour, suggesting referees still need a bit of convincing about his scrum angles. You can safely put this subject on your Lions bingo card, because the tourists will be keen to plant the idea that referees will need to keep an eye on the Wallabies’ scrummaging. Whole Tests could swing on scrum interpretations, especially between Tupou and Ireland’s Andrew Porter.
Suaalii has done enough
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s concussion against the Reds was another reminder of his all-or-nothing style: he throws himself contact with and without the ball. But even if he does miss the rest of Super Rugby because of his history of prior concussions, he had done enough to start against the British and Irish Lions. Despite only playing for 38 minutes against the Reds, he finished as the Waratahs’ best ball carrier, with 42 run metres. He’s a special athlete with the ball, and his ability to get on the outside of defenders or use his quick hands to distribute wider can be a genuine weapon in the No.13 jersey.
Wallabies form Team of the Week
- Angus Bell (Waratahs)
- Nic Dolly (Force)
- Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies)
- Jeremy Williams (Force)
- Darcy Swain (Force)
- Rob Valetini (Brumbies)
- Fraser McReight (Reds) – Player of the week
- Langi Gleeson (Waratahs)
- Tate McDermott (Reds)
- Tane Edmed (Waratahs)
- Corey Toole (Brumbies)
- Len Ikitau (Brumbies)
- Filipo Daugunu (Reds)
- Lachlan Anderson (Reds)
- Tom Wright (Brumbies)
Dre Pakeho is my Wallabies bolter
The 20-year-old Reds rising star is mature beyond his years, emerging as a bit of a rock in their midfield due to injuries of Hunter Paisami and Josh Flook. Australia’s midfield stocks are particularly deep, with Joe Schmidt previously showing an interest in Rebel-turned-Brumby David Feliuai. Pakeho has some of the same qualities, but with a much higher ceiling on account of his age.
A nervous weekend for Australian rugby
The Wallabies can’t afford to be without Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Noah Lolesio, so the sight of both being stretchered off this weekend must have caused Joe Schmidt a restless night or two. Lolesio had started to come into some real form, and while the early sideline prognosis on his injury offered some grounds for optimism, the first Lions Test is only a few months away. Tom Lynagh has plenty of potential, but he’s a 22-year-old who has played only three Tests – and all of them off the bench.
Noah Lolesio of the Brumbies is stretchered from the field.Credit: Getty Images
O’Connor’s Sydney audition
James O’Connor will return to Australia on Friday for the game against the Waratahs with a Wallabies spot clearly within reach. Schmidt was surprisingly open about that possibility in comments he made last week, highlighting the Wallabies’ lack of experience in the playmaking positions. With the Crusaders losing All Blacks fullback Will Jordan to a knee injury on Saturday evening, O’Connor has become even more important for the Crusaders as a senior voice. Apart from one wee knock-on in the Crusaders’ loss to the Chiefs on Saturday, O’Connor was again sharp off the bench in a role he has made his own this season. Schmidt’s interest is understandable.
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