Tupou pulled from Wallabies camp for early Lions duel

Murray Wenzel |

Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou is set to play in the Waratahs’ tour match against the Lions.
Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou is set to play in the Waratahs’ tour match against the Lions.

Taniela Tupou won’t face Fiji after being pulled from the Wallabies camp for an early test against the British & Irish Lions.

The NSW Waratahs will benefit from the 58-Test prop’s presence on Saturday in Sydney, the second Lions fixture of the week following their clash with the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.

Australia play Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday, coach Joe Schmidt on Monday releasing Tupou after including him in the wider Test squad last week.

The off-contract Tupou, reportedly set for a club move to France, did not hit his straps for the Waratahs this season but at his best would be a crucial piece of the Wallabies’ pack to take on the Lions.

He’ll get his chance to make an early statement on Saturday before Schmidt refines his squad for the three-Test Lions series beginning in Brisbane on July 19. 

AAP