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Taniela Tupou backed to 'wipe out the noise' and perform for Rebels

Taniela Tupou of the Reds prepares during the warm-up before the round 6 Super RugbyAU match between the NSW Waratahs and the Queensland Reds at Stadium Australia (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Taniela Tupou has been challenged to defy the “daunting” uncertainty surrounding his new Melbourne home and prove he’s one of the world’s best props.

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The cash-strapped Rebels’ chief executive Baden Stephenson was among 10 staff cut by administrators on Thursday, with Rugby Australia (RA) re-contracting coach Kevin Foote and the high-performance staff on four-month deals.

RA chief executive Phil Waugh has confirmed the Rebels’ presence in this year’s Super Rugby Pacific season that begins next week, and says discussions are already under way over long-term “strategic vision”.

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Tupou missed the entire 2023 season with injury, returning for the World Cup only to injure his hamstring.

He had been convinced to remain in Australian rugby, lured to the Rebels on a two-year deal after the Tonga-born star had burst onto the scene with the Queensland Reds in 2015.

Tupou remains a key driver of the Wallabies’ fortunes on the field, as well as being one of the code’s most marketable figures.

His Wallabies and former Reds teammate Fraser McReight said it would be a tricky task for Tupou and the Rebels to flourish amid all the uncertainty surrounding the club.

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“I’m sure it’d be quite difficult, quite daunting, but we’re taught as professional rugby players to wipe (out) the noise and focus on your job, and elite teams do that very well,” McReight said.

“He hasn’t played much footy recently, I’m just excited for him to get back on the field and do what he does best.”

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Wallaby and Rebel Josh Kemeny will leave for England at the end of the season but Waugh has no fears Tupou will follow him overseas.

“It’s tough in Melbourne at the moment,” Waugh said.

“Keeping our best talent on shore is really important to us and that’s why we invested in Taniela’s future.”

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Australia, knocked out in the pool stage for the first time ever at last year’s World Cup, will begin Test life under new coach Joe Schmidt in July, when they host Wales and Georgia.

Former Test flanker Waugh expects Tupou to rise above the Rebels’ plight and help move the needle for the struggling Wallabies.

“There’s a responsibility on our players to perform at that impactful level,” he said.

“When the Wallabies have been a successful team it’s been with five or six world-class players in the 15.

“This year I’m excited for Super Rugby to get those players to stand up, put their hand up and be those world-class players in their position that we probably haven’t had for the last few years.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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