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'This kid has got a massive future': Returning Chief's injury bounce back comes at the perfect time

Quinn Tupaea. (Photo by John Cowpland/Photosport)

Quinn Tupaea made a name for himself with Hamilton Boys’ High School and was quickly signed by the Waikato Rugby Union as a midfielder with immense potential.

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While Tupaea made an instant impact in provincial rugby, finishing as the Mitre 10 Cup’s seventh top try-scorer in 2018, it took the youngster some time to find his feet at Super Rugby level, making his debut in last year’s competition.

One year on, the 22-year-old is making all the right moves if he’s looking to play at the highest level of the game and book a spot in the All Blacks ahead of their 2021 campaign.

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James Parsons and Bryn Hall talk about all the action and news from the week of rugby in New Zealand and across the world.

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James Parsons and Bryn Hall talk about all the action and news from the week of rugby in New Zealand and across the world.

With Ngani Laumape heading offshore, another spot in the New Zealand midfield has opened up and the recently re-signed Tupaea could be the lucky man who fills it. While he’s got some areas of his game that certainly need shoring up, his performances for the Chiefs in the early stages of this year’s campaign would certainly have had him on the selectors’ radar.

A knee injury suffered against the Highlanders was thought to have curtailed his season but Tupaea has returned sooner than expected and lined up alongside Anton Lienert-Brown in the Chiefs midfield over the weekend, making an instant impact.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, former All Blacks hooker James Parsons was adamant that Tupaea is destined for big things.

“What took my notice on the weekend is Quinn Tupaea and Anton Lienert-Brown together,” Parsons said. “Man, we know Anton’s outstanding but Quinn Tupaea…

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“If I use Kaleb Trask’s second try, he busts through the line off the scrum [but] there are other aspects of his game. He’s cleaning rucks, he bounces back up, he gets another touch. [He’s making good] defensive reads. I think this kid has got a massive future at the next level but also he seems to be getting a great relationship with Anton.”

49-cap All Blacks centre Lienert-Brown scored two tries for the Chiefs as well as notching up 106 metres with the ball in hand. His centres partner, Tupaea, wasn’t far behind in the attacking stats with 100 metres run as well as two clean breaks, six defenders beaten and two offloads.

Parsons’ co-panellist on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, Crusaders centurion Byrn Hall, was also impressed with Tupaea’s return to action.

“I was fortunate enough to spend a bit of time with him at the New Zealand Maoris last year and he had a lot of raps coming off him,” Hall said.

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“[He] had a really good Mitre 10 Cup [in 2019] and then came in last year at Super Rugby playing at centre – and he’s usually a 12, talking to him at camp. Playing at that 13, [it was probably] defensively that he struggled a little bit but I think that him going into 12, which is a better feel for him, and working with Anton, who’s outside him, he’s special.

“He’s abrasive, he’s good in contact defensively. When he does make tackles, he’s really physical and with the ball in hand, that’s a massive attribute for him. He’s been through [gaps] a lot of times in games due to running really nice lines or, one-on-one, beating them with his footwork, so he’s got that all-round ability and just through time, he’s going to get better with that game management and understanding what it takes to be a 12. I think he’s a kid to watch for the future.”

Both Parsons and Hall also acknowledged the work of Alex Nankivell, who filled the gap in the midfield in Tupaea’s absence, and suggested that the Chiefs are build some excellent depth in the position.

Despite the performances of Lienert-Brown and Tupaea, the Chiefs weren’t able to record a bonus point against the Rebels over the weekend, which further dampens the slim chances that the side had of making the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final. As such, they will likely play their last game of the competition on Sunday when they tackle the Waratahs in Sydney.

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RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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