- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
SAINT ETIENNE – The Wallabies are sweating over the fitness of Taniela Tupou ahead of their crunch World Cup pool clash against Fiji, with the giant tight-head prop not training on Wednesday because of a “hamstring complaint”.
It comes after Tupou, 27, went down at training on Tuesday, The Roar understands.
Sources have told The Roar that Tupou is awaiting scans on his hamstring, but it can be revealed there are strong fears the world class prop could miss the rest of the pool stages with his injury likely to keep him sidelined for around three to four weeks.
That would mean Tupou misses the Wallabies’ next two crunch pool matches against Fiji and Wales, with Portugal to follow.
Fortunately, the Wallabies have a bye week ahead of a possible quarter-final in Marseille. But, of course, that rests on the Wallabies progressing that deep into the competition.
Alarm bells first sounded when as the Wallabies made their way out onto the Stade Roger Beaudras at 4pm local time, as Tupou was the last player out of the dressing sheds onto the field.
But unlike everyone else bar Pone Fa’amausili, Tupou wasn’t wearing his boots but rather sneakers as he gingerly walked past.
At the time a Wallabies official told The Roar Tupou was merely being managed, but assistant coach Jason Ryles later told reporters the destructive prop was being monitored.
“Taniela is on the sideline at the moment,” Ryles said.
“He has got a bit of a hamstring complaint but we’re just going to monitor him and just see how he goes over the next couple of days.”
Taniela Tupou is in doubt to take on Fiji in the Wallabies’ second World Cup fixture because of a “hamstring complaint”. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Tupou’s failure to train comes a week after Samu Kerevi too didn’t train ahead of the Test. Nonetheless, he was named two days’ later and played against Georgia.
With reporters permitted to watch only the first 15 minutes of training in the drizzling conditions, Ryles confirmed he didn’t train.
“Didn’t train today, no,” he said. “That’s not unusual for Taniela, don’t worry.”
Without Allan Alaalatoa (Achilles), the Wallabies can ill-afford another long-term injury to their star tight-head prop.
If the “complaint” was to deteriorate to a tear, the Wallabies’ World Cup hopes would be up in smoke.
It’s why if Tupou is at any risk, he will likely be wrapped in cotton wool.
Usually a player who suffers such an injury would be replaced but given how important Tupou is to the Wallabies’ campaign, he will be kept in the squad so he has every chance of recovering.
Zane Nonggorr is in the frame to start against Fiji, with Taniela Tupou in major doubt to line up against Fiji. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Several rugby figures have questioned why Tupou played as deep into the Wallabies’ past two Tests as he has, with the 140kg wrecking-ball asked to play until the 70th minute during their first-up win over Georgia. It also comes after he played 67 minutes against France on August 27.
Thankfully veteran prop James Slipper, who can also cover the tight-head side, is set to return after battling a foot injury.
Informed sources told The Roar that if Slipper got through training and pulled up well on Thursday, he would be in the Wallabies’ matchday squad on the bench as Zane Nonggorr’s replacement.
Ryles confirmed he was in the picture to play.
“Slips has been managed at this stage,” he said.
“I think he’s certainly in the picture but we’re not exactly sure how that’s going to pan out, whether it’s this week or next week.
“Himself and Pone have been doing a lot of stuff off-field and then dropping into training at different stages with what their injuries allow them to and what the medical team allow them to. I’m not sure if it will be this week but they’ll be close.”
James Slipper could return against Fiji, with Taniela Tupou in doubt after failing to train at Stade Roger Baudras on September 13, 2023 in Saint-Etienne. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Nor is he the only player under an injury cloud, with Nic White experiencing some issues with his shoulder following a knock against George in the second half.
White trained, but where his teammates lifted weights over their heads whilst running, the halfback didn’t extend them over his shoulders.
With Tate McDermott already ruled out because of concussion protocols, the veteran halfback is likely to share minutes with one-cap livewire Issak Fines-Leleiwasa.
While Fiji, who controversially lost to Wales in dramatic circumstances over the weekend, have posed a real threat for the Wallabies over the past two World Cup campaigns, Sunday’s clash (Monday, 1:45am AEST) shapes as the most competitive and dangerous in years.
“Obviously they’ve got a lot of individuals that are very talented, very athletic, some of the best ball carriers in the world, so that’s going to be a huge challenge for our defence,” Ryles said.
“Also, I think they’ve had a really good block of training leading into this looking at the first game, so they’re obviously very match conditioned.
“They’ve only lost two games this season, they’ve beaten some top tier teams, they’ve beaten England as well, so a huge challenge for us defensively and that’s one thing we’ve been working really hard on at the start of this week.
“So again, their ability to break tackles and contest the breakdown and then also play off the back of that, a bit of Fiji footy off the back of that speed of ball, is second to none. It’s going to be a huge challenge for us.”
Assistant coach Jason Ryles talks to back Samu Kerevi and Mark Nawaqanitawase during a Wallabies training session at Stade Roger Baudras on September 13, 2023 in Saint-Etienne. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
While few teams want to get into a running match with Fiji, Ryles said the Wallabies were intent on continuing to build their style of play and wouldn’t go away from their ethos despite the potency and threat of their opponents.
“We definitely want to keep expressing ourselves,” he said.
“We’ve got a way that we want to attack and we want to keep building on that. I think the first 27 minutes [against Georgia] was, apart from [Angus] Belly’s one early, it was the first error we made and we really stuck to the plan and we’re really focussed on that this week.
“It’s a step up in class but it’s also another opportunity for us to try and execute that again.
We just want to keep building on what our strengths are in attack, which we’re working really hard on and building towards.
“It’s more about us this week as opposed to what we need to do to Fiji and that’s one thing we want to keep focusing on.”
Fijian-born winger Suliasi Vunivalu who remains in the frame to keep his spot on the bench, said he expected his countrymen to go after one another.
“I was actually speaking to Marika [Koroibete] about this, about their last World Cup and what they were saying,” Vunivalu said.
“He was saying, they were mentioning stuff to Samu like ‘belt him, belt him’ in Fijian.
“And I was like, ‘Did Samu know?’ and he was like, ‘No, I didn’t want to tell Samu about that.’
“But yeah, I think they’ll be looking forward to the same situation this week.”
Nick Frost and Tom Hooper during a school visit at Ecole Elementaire Molina on September 11, 2023 in Saint-Etienne. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Wallabies forward Tom Hooper, who shifted from blindside flanker to the second-row and took over the lineout duties, said despite the second-half wobbles against Georgia when he took over the lineout duties, it was an important experience.
“I had concerns definitely because it was me calling it,” Hooper said.
“So, I’ve got to chuck my hand up there and cop that one on the chin.
“But I’m a young player and Eddie was really good.
“He came up to me after the game and said it was an unfamiliar role for me and definitely throughout the course of this World Cup, I’m not going to be first choice lineout caller, but I might find myself back there.
“It’s something we’ve put a lot of work on throughout this week, we’ll continue to work on and if I’m in that position again, I’m sure myself and the hooker will have a better combination and resolve that.”
Asked how Brumbies teammate Nick Frost was tracking after his ear issue, Hooper said he was on the improve.
“He’s good to go,” Hooper said. “He’s running out there with a water polo cap on, so he’s got a little bit of a home job, cut a hole in the head gear, put a water polo cap on. He’s MacGyver, so is doing really well.”
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.