OH MY LORD, you need to take a look at Taniela Tupou, the 18-year-old prop just signed by the Reds. Teams from New Zealand and Australia were both courting the signature of the ‘Tongan Thor’, and it is not hard to see why from these clips.
If Cian Healy and Luke Fitzgerald ever gave their DNA towards creating a super baby capable of one day taking over professional rugby, then this is what the aforementioned baby would play like.
Australian rugby fans will be salivating at that footage as their tight five has been the weakest part of their team for years, and Tupou is eligible for the Wallabies.
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And just remember that Taniela Tupou is now an accepted answer to the standard pub quiz question: what do you get when you combine an elephant and a cheetah?
Yeah but can he scrummage? Usually that sort if trade off to make. Vunipola comes to mind. Might be better off at the base of the scrum, as supposed to driving it.
The Kiwis are filthy he jumped the ditch, but he was recruited from Tonga to come play schools in NZ only a couple of years ago, and he grew up idolising the Wallabies not the ABs. I would have thought league was a better place for his skills, as a lot of people are pointing out. just cos you’re almost 140kg doesn’t mean you can be a destructive scrummager or an international for a top side,look at Ben Tameifuna, a player with similar skill set to Tupou. He would have to probably drop 10kg to have the stamina for pro rugby.
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Hopefully he will play Test rugby for Tonga
Not unless he doesn’t make the Wallabies first
With the Australia lacking in quality front row talent or number 8′s for that matter, he will be handed a wallaby jersey within the two years
Yeah but can he scrummage? Usually that sort if trade off to make. Vunipola comes to mind. Might be better off at the base of the scrum, as supposed to driving it.
True
Underage BIG props often have less technique due relying on just using their size. Often found out when go up a level
This lad though is a freak in the best way possible. Hope we see him playing for Tonga and not Oz or NZ
Would 8 not suit him best?
Its likely if he’s good that bat fastard will be snapped up by the all blacks….
He’ll hardly stay a prop, winger or 12
Scott Gibbs 2.0
The Kiwis are filthy he jumped the ditch, but he was recruited from Tonga to come play schools in NZ only a couple of years ago, and he grew up idolising the Wallabies not the ABs. I would have thought league was a better place for his skills, as a lot of people are pointing out. just cos you’re almost 140kg doesn’t mean you can be a destructive scrummager or an international for a top side,look at Ben Tameifuna, a player with similar skill set to Tupou. He would have to probably drop 10kg to have the stamina for pro rugby.