THIS MEANS THOR

Genge challenges the Aussies’ 21-stone man mountain Tupou to back up his fighting talk: A whack? I’ve had a few

FROM ADAM HATHAWAY in Brisbane

ENGLAND prop Ellis Genge has challenged Australia’s Tongan ‘Thor’ to prove he is not all talk in today’s crucial Test in Brisbane.

The build-up to this do-ordie match for England, 1-0 down in the series, has been dominated by the head-tohead between Genge and Wallaby Taniela Tupou.

The 21-stone tight-head is a local hero here, playing his club rugby for the Queensland Reds, and his return from a calf injury has attracted huge interest.

He was a YouTube sensation as a teenager, with videos of him rampaging through age grade rugby doing the rounds, and the hype has only increased.

Tupou, born in Tonga, stoked the fire on Thursday, saying he was going to smash Genge, but the England loose head has challenged him to back up his bravado on the pitch.

“You’ve seen what he said,” said Genge (above, in action in the first Test). “Good for him you’ve got to back it up haven’t you? If he’s going to give me a whack he’ll give me a whack, I’ve had a few. “I love playing against the best tightheads in the world but I’ve never played against him and I’ve never met him. I’ve seen his highlights reel from when he was 16, everyone has and he’s a big lump isn’t he?” England forwards coach Richard Cockerill backed up

Genge’s challenge to Tupou, who will play his first game since April.

Cockerill said: “Tupou has not played for a little while so he’d better turn up and perform if he is going to start challenging Ellis before the game. Ellis will get on with his game.

“His scrummaging is very consistent, he always shows good pictures and I’m looking forward to that battle – two big ball-carriers, two big, physical men who are going to get at it.

“That’s what sells tickets, isn’t it? I’m sure they’re saying the same as us. When Gengey gets the ball they’re going to want to whack him. When Tupou gets the ball we’re going to want to whack him. It’s no different to any other game.”

Cockerill was on the front foot as England finished their preparations for the game with a run out at Suncorp Stadium, where Australia have not lost since 2016.

Defeat in this one and the series is done, while head coach Eddie Jones’ future will be up for discussion.

But Cockerill, a former hooker, has urged his side to

take the game to the Aussies after last week’s 30-28 loss.

He added: “The forward battle is going to be key and let’s look forward to it. We’re an English pack and we want to get in the middle of it.

“We will get in the middle of it. It’s about making sure that battle of wills is really strong and we make sure that we don’t blink first.

“We want it to be gladiatorial. We want it to be physical. That first clash is going to be great.

Let’s go and see it. That is what the game is all about. Let’s enjoy the physical parts, the feisty parts and within the laws of the game, let’s get into it.”

Genge added: “I was surprised last week, they were better than what we perceived they were going to be. That was probably a bit naive on our part. Good for them.

“What are we going to do to turn that around? Go harder.

“We’ve got to be better everywhere.”