Waratahs youngster Moses Tuipulotu may have declared “mate, I’m defending gold” when asked about his future international ambitions last month, but Scotland are set to seriously test his loyalty with a big-money offer.
“It’s always been my dream to play for the Wallabies and wear the gold jersey,” said Tuypulotu, whose older brother Sione was invited from Scotland, having qualified through their grandmother.
Tuipulotu is set to make his debut off the bench for the Waratahs against the Hurricanes on Friday and will face an intriguing decision with reports Scotland are set to tempt him with a $225,000-a-season deal, according to media reports.
He would be a lot less than that at the Tahs, but there is a potential path looming in the first team, with neither Lalakai Foketi or Izzy Perez yet to be linked beyond the World Cup.
The Tahs are likely to give him a renewed contract offer for next season, but the cash he could receive as part of the Scotland Qualified program will be up to them.
Sione, meanwhile, questioned his brother’s emphatic statement that the Wallabies were his first and only love.
“I’m not sure that’s the case, to be honest,” Cione was quoted as saying by The Scotsman.
“I don’t know if they mixed up a couple of quotes or what. I speak to my brother quite often and his motivation is that he has six months left with the Waratahs and he wants to play as much Super Rugby as possible this year.
“He’s had a good start to pre-season but at the end of the day he’s got two Wallabies centers ahead of him in Lalakai Phoketi and Izaya Perez.
Moses Tuipulotu, brother of Sione of Scotland. Photo: Waratahs Media – Julius Dimataga
“My brother dances to the beat of his own drum and while I’m here he wants to do his thing, he can stay in Australia or come here.
“He keeps his cards close to his chest. He’s also a center, and maybe Gregor [Townsend] talks to him slyly. I always say if he has to come, send him to Edinburgh because I don’t want him to steal my position in Glasgow.’
The Tahs plan to handle Ardy
The NSW Waratahs are understandably not looking to rattle Ardie Savea’s cage as the devastating back-rower returns from suspension in a key Super Rugby Pacific clash in Wellington.
After a disappointing loss to the Rebels in Melbourne, the Waratahs admit starting their campaign with a four-to-one record will leave the 2022 quarter-finalists in the hunt to play.
Winning in New Zealand has been elusive enough for Australian sides in recent years without dealing with the smart Savea, who was returning from a lengthy suspension for a throat-slitting gesture at Rebels midfielder Ryan Lawrence.
“Don’t kick the bear in my opinion,” Waratahs lock Ned Hannigan said on Wednesday when asked how best to cancel out the All Blacks star at Sky Stadium.
Rebels and Hurricanes clash during the second round Super Rugby Pacific match between Melbourne Rebels and Hurricanes at AAMI Park on March 03, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
“Unreal player. His ball-carrying ability and ability to disrupt whatever you want to do with the ball, he’s a world-class defender for a reason.”
From re-signing with the Warriors to making his debut at the end of 2024, flanker Charlie Gamble has admitted there is a big challenge ahead.
“Ardie’s Ardie, he’s probably the best player in the world right now,” Gamble said.
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“It’s all about bringing that energy and work rate to the field.
“If you feel like you’re competing for absolutely everything, then … if he’s a better player, if he’s holding a lot harder than you, if he’s breaking lanes, it is what it is.
“It’s Ardi Savea. There will be parts of the game where he will do some outstanding things on the field. It’s just about limiting.
“We will do as much as we can to respond to that. It’s an exciting challenge.”
While Savea has only been watching from the sidelines for a week, Hannigan last played for NSW in 2020 and plans to get his own shot at his long-awaited comeback after three seasons in Japan.
A knee injury delayed the former Wallabies star’s comeback and he is now trying to get stuck in.
“I can’t wait. “I was really disappointed that I didn’t get there in the first round,” he said.
“It was something we’d been building all summer and the goal was to be outside.
“I played parts of both trials and felt really good, but I came up short so I had to get the knee right.
“Honestly, I can’t even put it into words. It’s going to be great.”
The lure of another Rugby World Cup, which starts in France in September, is also driving the 27-year-old.
“Anyone who’s in Australian footy at the moment who’s eligible to play, you’ve got to look at it because it’s the epitome of the sport,” Hannigan said.
“It’s where you want to be. The best against the best.
“But there are a lot of games after this point.”
Sign up for Key ABs
All Blacks defender David Havily and defender Tyrell Lomax have re-signed with New Zealand Rugby.
Havili, who has 25 caps and has been a key member of the Crusaders’ six consecutive Super Rugby titles, is committed until 2025.
The 28-year-old utility has featured in 22 of the All Blacks’ last 28 Tests and featured in five of the six SR finals.
“To coach someone with so many skills who can play so many different positions at a world-class level is so unique,” said Crusaders coach Scott Robertson, who is the leading candidate to be Havili’s next coach.
“He has a skill factor but also a toughness factor. He’s tough as a coach, tough as a player and tough on himself. He has real cunning in him.
“For him to sign a contract until 2025 and stay so committed shows what it means to him to play rugby here in New Zealand. It shows how much we value him and how much he values ​​us.”
Lomax, 26, is back in New Zealand rugby until the end of 2026.
The 23-Test tighthead prop has been one of the All Blacks’ best performers in 2022 and is expected to be a key member of the World Cup squad later this year.
England promises to avoid new humiliations
England’s chastened players have agreed to avoid a repeat of their record-breaking Six Nations thrashing of France 53-10, says Alice Genge.
With regular captain Owen Farrell on the bench, Genge captained England at Twickenham against France in what was their third heaviest defeat of all time and their heaviest at home.
“We have had a review,” Genge told Sky Sports. “Obviously it wasn’t good enough, but I don’t think anyone was under any illusion that it was.
“We’ve had some honest conversations about why this happened. We cleared it up and agreed it won’t happen again.”
England are fourth in the Six Nations table after two wins and two losses.
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They travel to Dublin on Saturday for the final match of the championship to face leaders Ireland, who are chasing a grand slam.
“I don’t know what the result will be on Saturday, but as long as we fight and have each other’s backs, that’s what we’re going to go after,” Genge said.
“They are a brilliant, brilliant side and deserve to be number one.
“It’s all against us, but we’re excited. We have to put things right, but the pressure is probably more on them.”