Kepu rapt bench is up to the challenge

THE Wallabies’ pack is still a work in progress under new forwards coach Simon Rauwaliu despite praise for their opening Test win over Ireland.

The Australians matched the might of the Six Nations champions in Brisbane, even winning a crucial tight-head scrum that gave the hosts a penalty and the lead late in the match.

Veteran prop Sekope Kepu said it was a telling important moment for the development of the team that it was produced by the bench forwards, with bulldozing youngster Taniela Tupou standing out.

“It was a crucial time and changed the momentum,” Kepu said. “It’s something that we’ve been working towards, trying to get the bench to bring impact and finish the game.

“If you look at great teams of the past they have great benches and great finishers, so that’s something that our finishers did really well.”

The Test against the Irish was the first since Rauwaliu succeeded long-time scrum guru Mario Ledesma earlier this year and Kepu said they were all still feeling their way.

But he said that the team was embracing the physicality demanded by the former Fiji international.

“He demands a lot of us tight five, especially the locks,” the 32-year-old said.

“He said he wants them to push like props and run like backrowers, so he’s set the bar pretty high and the two second rowers did that pretty well on Saturday night.”

Australia have the chance to wrap up the three-Test series at Melbourne’s AAMI Park on Saturday night but Kepu was expecting a stern response from Ireland, the world No.2.

“They’re not Six Nations champions for nothing, they will bounce back.”