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'Underwhelmed': Ex-internationals at odds over Quinn Tupaea's recent form

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

A trio of former New Zealand internationals have offered contrasting views about the performance of Chiefs midfielder Quinn Tupaea in his side’s Super Rugby Pacific defeat to the Brumbies on Saturday.

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Tupaea has had a solid, if unspectacular, Super Rugby Pacific season thus far, being called upon to start on the left wing for the Chiefs, as well as being relegated to the bench at times.

However, the 22-year-old finally seems to be finding his best form, starring for the Hamilton-based franchise in their 38-28 loss two days ago.

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Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 12

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Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 12

That spurred All Blacks great Sir John Kirwan to praise the youngster, who he said on The Breakdown had endured a tumultuous campaign where he has battled for selection against the in-form Alex Nankivell and injured Anton Lienert-Brown.

“I think that it has been a hard year for him, and he needed to get back and have a strong game. I think he has his ups and downs during the game,” Kirwan said.

“From what I have seen from him he is definitely All Black material, and he can go a long way, but he just needs consistency around the little parts of the game.

“I think it was a really big statement from him last night because he has been under selection pressure. I like what he brought on attack last night I would just like to see him back that up next week.”

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Former Maori All Blacks lock Joe Wheeler was more straightforward in his assessment of Tupaea’s efforts, though, calling into question his defensive performance in the defeat to Super Rugby Pacific’s second-ranked team last Saturday.

“I thought he was okay… I think his attack was outstanding, but defensively he missed a few tackles which is surprising for me.” Wheeler said.

“That is probably his work on is his defensive work. We obviously know he is a premium attacker, but on the other side of the ball I was a little bit underwhelmed.”

On the opposite side of the coin, ex-All Blacks wing Jeff Wilson was more positive in his outlook on how Tupaea fared against the Brumbies.

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“It was his best attacking game of the season,” Wilson told The Breakdown.”He was creating for the players around him which is something we desperately need in the midfield.”

The trio’s comments come at a time when Tupaea looms as a contender for the national No 12 jersey, a vacancy in the All Blacks that has no lead candidate vying to fill that spot.

Since the 2019 World Cup, the All Blacks have tried and tested a number of different midfield combinations, with Tupaea, Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue and David Havili all spending time in the No 12 jersey for New Zealand.

As such, it remains unclear who head coach Ian Foster is likely to select leading into the 2023 World Cup in France.

Tupaea started at second-five in the final game of the All Blacks season against France last year, but struggled to play his best rugby as the Kiwis fell short in a 40-25 defeat at Stade de France.

Nevertheless, with international experience now in his arsenal, Tupaea may get the first nod against Ireland in July’s three-test tour of New Zealand, although much of that will come down to his form throughout the rest of Super Rugby Pacific.

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8 Comments
f
flyinginsectshrimp 910 days ago

RTS and Reiko Ioane in the midfield for me.

R
Rugbee McClaw 910 days ago

Roger looking good for 12. Rieks got 13 locked up. Who is then the best bench option? Ennor? Goodhue?

A
Andrew 911 days ago

The heading is completely misleading. Two ABs were praising him and only Wheeler was less enamoured. Shrely amore accurate headin was "Former ABs encouraged by Tupaeas form" I wouldnt rate Wheelers opinion too highly.

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RedWarrior 32 minutes 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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G
GS 1 hour ago
Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

The key is realising this AB side is not what they are now but what they will be in 2025/26.


You can already see a Power bench forming, and I would highlight that people watch the AB XV game vs Munster and watch Fabian Holland - he, in the next 24 months, will be WC and bring some huge physicality to the team.


Then, aligned with Peter Lakai, probably at 7, another WC talent, the AB pack by 2026 will probably both be starting and on the bench - be rated as No 1 or 2 packs in the world.


Then, there is the usual WC talent around the backline, and the missing link is Mo'unga. Unlike in last year's WC, the coming forward pack for the ABs, is similar to the Bok pack, It will be packed full of power, and the key to this is a realitively young pack.


So I think we will lose to Ireland and France in the coming weeks, but watch out as this pack builds into - I mean, look at the tight five and loose forwards that are coming for the ABs - De Groot, Lomax, Williams, Tosi, Taylor, Ofa T, Samson T, Aumua, Patrick T, Barrett, Vai, Fabian H, Setiti, Lakai, Savea, Frizzell (understand they are attempting to get him and Mo'unga back), Blackadder, Papalii and bar Barrett, Savea, Patrick T, Taylor - pretty young in international terms.


Huge front row starting and on bench, Power locks and usual class in loose forwards - only missing ingredient is a WC 10 and with Mo'unga back probably in 2026, these ABs are trending in a very healthy direction.

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