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Waratahs youngster Mosese Tuipulotu might have declared “mate I’m backing gold” when asked last month about his future international ambitions, but Scotland are set to seriously test his loyalties with a big money offer.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play for the Wallabies and wear the gold jersey,” said Tuipulotu, whose older brother Sione has been called up by Scotland, qualifying through their grandmother.
Tuipulotu should make his Waratahs debut off the bench against the Hurricanes on Friday and faces an intriguing decision with reports that Scotland are set to tempt him with a $225,000 a season deal, according to media reports.
He would be on a lot less than that at the Tahs but there is a potential pathway looming into the first team with neither Lalakai Foketi or Izzy Perese yet tied down beyond the World Cup.
The Tahs are also likely to give him an upgraded contract offer for next season but the cash he can receive under the Scotland Qualified program will concern them.
Meanwhile Sione cast doubt over his brother’s emphatic statement that the Wallabies were his first and only love.
“I’m not sure it’s that true, to be honest,” Sione was quoted as saying by The Scotsman.
“I don’t know if they mixed up a couple of quotes or whatever. I speak to my brother quite often and his motivation is that he’s still got six months left with the Waratahs and he wants to play as much Super Rugby this year as he possibly can.
“He’s started well in pre-season but at the end of the day he’s got two Wallaby centres ahead of him in Lalakai Foketi and Izaia Perese.
Mosese Tuipulotu – the brother of Scottish international Sione. Photo: Waratahs Media – Julius Dimataga
“My brother dances to the beat of his own drum and while I’m over here he wants to do his thing, so that might be staying in Australia or might be coming over here.
“He holds his cards close to his chest. He’s a centre too so maybe Gregor [Townsend] is talking to him on the sly. I always say that if he was to come over then send him to Edinburgh because I don’t want him to steal my position at Glasgow!”
The NSW Waratahs, wisely, have no plans to rattle Ardie Savea’s cage when the destructive back-rower makes his return from suspension in a pivotal Super Rugby Pacific encounter in Wellington.
Coming off a lacklustre loss to the Rebels in Melbourne, the Waratahs concede starting their campaign with a one-from-four record would leave the 2022 quarter-finalists playing catch-up.
Winning in New Zealand has proven elusive enough for Australian sides in recent years, without having to deal with a smarting Savea returning from the long run after being banned for a game for a throat-slitting gesture towards Rebels halfback Ryan Louwrens.
“Don’t poke the bear I reckon,” Waratahs lock Ned Hanigan said on Wednesday when asked how best to nullify the All Blacks star at Sky Stadium.
Rebels and Hurricanes clash during the round two Super Rugby Pacific match between Melbourne Rebels and Hurricanes at AAMI Park, on March 03, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
“An unreal player. His ball carrying abilities and skills in disrupting what you want to do with the ball, he’s a back-rower that’s considered world class for a reason.”
Fresh from re-signing with the Waratahs until the end of 2024, flanker Charlie Gamble acknowledged the mighty challenge ahead.
“Ardie’s Ardie, he’s probably the best player in the world at the moment,” Gamble said.
The NSW Waratahs Women take on Force and the Tahs men battle the Chiefs in an enthralling double-header on Friday, 24 March at Allianz Stadium.
“It’s all about bringing that energy and that work rate around the field.
“If you feel like you’re competing for absolutely everything then … if he’s a better player, if he’s carrying a lot stronger than you, if he’s making line breaks, it is what it is.
“That’s Ardie Savea. There’s going to be parts of the game where he’s going to do some outstanding stuff on the field. It’s just about limiting that.
“We’ll be doing as much as we can to reply to that. It’s an exciting challenge.”
While Savea has only been watching on from the sidelines for a week, Hanigan last played for NSW back in 2020 and plans on packing his own punch in his long-awaited comeback game after a three-season stint in Japan.
A knee injury delayed the former Wallabies star’s return and he’s now champing at the bit to get stuck in.
“I can’t wait. I was really disappointed I didn’t get there in round one,” he said.
“It was something we’d built into across the summer and the goal was to be out there.
“I’d played parts of the two trials and just felt really good going into but got cut short so had to get the knee right.
“Honestly, I can’t even put it into words. It’s going to be great.”
The lure of another Rugby World Cup, which kicks off in France in September, is also driving the 27-year-old.
“Anyone in Australian footy at the moment who is eligible to play, you’ve got to have your sights set on it because it’s the epitome of sport,” Hanigan said.
“It’s where you want to be. The best against the best.
“But there’s a lot of footy to be played between now and then.”
All Blacks back David Havili and prop Tyrel Lomax have re-signed with New Zealand Rugby.
Havili, who has 25 caps and was a key member of the Crusaders’ six straight Super Rugby titles, has committed to the end of 2025.
The 28-year-old utility has featured in 22 of the All Blacks’ 28 latest Tests and played in five of the six SR finals.
“To coach someone that has multiple skills, that can play in so many different positions at a world-class level, is so unique,” said Crusaders coach Scott Robertson, who is a leading candidate to be Havili’s next national team coach.
“He has a skill factor, but a toughness factor too. He’s tough as a trainer, tough as a player and tough on himself. He’s got true grit in him.
“For him to sign on until 2025 and be so loyal just shows what it means to him to play rugby here in New Zealand. It shows how much we value him and how much he values us.”
Lomax, 26, has re-committed to New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2026.
The 23-Test tighthead prop was one of the All Blacks’ top performers in 2022 and is expected to be a key member of the World Cup squad later this year.
England’s chastened players have made a pact to ensure there is no repeat of their 53-10 record Six Nations defeat by France, prop Ellis Genge says.
With regular skipper Owen Farrell on the bench, Genge captained England at Twickenham against France in what was their third-heaviest defeat of all time, and their biggest at home.
“We’ve had a review,” Genge told Sky Sports. “It clearly wasn’t good enough, but I don’t think anyone was under any illusion that it was.
“We’ve had some honest conversations as to why that happened. We’ve cleared that up and made a pact that it’s not going to happen again.”
England are fourth in the Six Nations standings after two wins and two defeats.
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They travel to Dublin on Saturday for the final match of the championship to face leaders Ireland, who are chasing a grand slam.
“I don’t know what the result is going to be on Saturday, but as long as we fight and have each other’s backs, that’s what we’ll be going after,” Genge said.
“They’re a brilliant, brilliant side and deserve to be number one.
“It’s all against us, but we’re excited. We’ve got to put things right, but the pressure is probably more on them.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.