Wallabies release Taniela Tupou to NSW Waratahs to take on British & Irish Lions
In a major development ahead of Australia's critical Test against Fiji this weekend, giant prop Taniela Tupou has been released from the Wallabies' training camp and sent back to the Waratahs for their tour match against the British and Irish Lions.
Named as the starting tighthead prop in Australia's last match against Scotland on their 2024 end of season tour to Europe, Tupou has lost his spot in the squad for the Wallabies' only warm-up match for the Lions, against Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday.
Struggling to reproduce his best form this year, Tupou will instead return to Sydney and rejoin the Waratahs ahead of their match against the Lions at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
Nicknamed 'the Tongan Thor', Tupou has made 58 appearances for the Wallabies since making his Test debut in 2017 but his prospects of adding to his caps during the upcoming three-Test series against the Lions now look to be in jeopardy.
With Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa regarded as a near-certainty to be selected as the starting tighthead prop, Tupou was vying with Queensland's Zane Nonggorr and Tom Robertson, who can pack down on either side of the scrum, as the backup.
Nonggorr was not released from the Wallabies' training camp for the Reds' match against the Lions in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Robertson was let go so he could play for the Western Force against the Lions last weekend and had a storming game, despite his team's heavy 54-7 loss.
One of six Force players who ran out against the Lions in Perth, Robertson returned to the Wallabies camp on Sunday and was given a clean bill of health after undergoing a fitness check.
Robertson hasn't played a Test for Australia in three years but has put himself back in the picture for the series opener at Suncorp Stadium on July 19 and is desperate for a recall.
'Just to be in the squad is an honour, to try and push for a gig in that 23 would be unreal. I'd come close last year being in the squad for a bit and then had a few injuries and didn't make the 23.'
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will announce his squad to face Fiji on Friday afternoon.
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