Tupou scraps into spot

THREE pulverising scrums against his own team have won powerhouse Taniela Tupou his first start for the Wallabies despite only 28 minutes of action since coach Michael Cheika said there was “no hurry” to rush the project prop.

“Tongan Thor” has been thrust into the front-row to help the Wallabies make a start of real authority against a South African side which will be roared on by 46,000 home fans in Port Elizabeth tomorrow.

It is no backflip from Cheika, just a realisation of how quickly Tupou, at 22, has improved.

At Tuesday’s training session, Tupou was at tight-head in the reserve pack when it crunched the nominal Test eight backwards in three consecutive scrums.

It was an irresistible scrummaging audition against Test prop Scott Sio. As a result, Tupou has taken the spot of Allan Alaalatoa.