Wallabies great Sekope Kepu has backed Taniela Tupou to turn around his mid-career slump, saying the under-siege tight-head prop has his “best years” in front of him and remains one of two vital “cornerstones” ahead of the upcoming Lions series.
Kepu described the opportunity to take part in the series as an “opportunity of a lifetime”.
He also listed Tupou, his former Test teammate, as his number one target on his wish list.
The issue is that Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will be hoping the Tongan Thor’s form has him primed to take on the Lions in the second Test just a few days later on July 26 at the MCG instead.
Kepu knows better than most about the importance of tight-head props.
Twelve years ago Kepu came off the bench against the Lions in Brisbane and together with Stephen Moore and James Slipper managed to win a scrum penalty in the 79th minute that gave the Wallabies the chance to go one-up in the series.
But the opportunity went to waste as Kurtley Beale slipped over and left his long-range shot just short of the posts.
James Horwill and Sekope Kepu celebrate winning game two against the British & Irish Lions at Etihad Stadium on June 29, 2013 in Melbourne. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Nonetheless, the moment was a perfect reminder of the importance of the scrum.
It’s why Kepu believes Tupou still has a big role to play in 2025 despite struggling all year for the Waratahs.
“There’s good young guys coming through Australian rugby and a couple of the Reds boys, but I think with Allan [Alaalatoa] and Taniela there, those are the two cornerstones of Australian rugby at the moment in terms of anchoring that scrum,” Kepu said.
“And seeing the way that Allan’s been playing, I think they’ll play a crucial part of that.
“The Lions will bring that mentality and that attitude of it’s all won up front, so it’s going to be massive.
“I remember back to the Brisbane game in 2013, the first game, we got a penalty in that scrum. We managed to push them in that scrum. We got a penalty and unfortunately, Kurtley slipped over and missed it, but that’s what it comes down to. It can be won and lost simply at the scrum.”
Whether or not Tupou gets the same chance to take on the Lions remains to be seen.
By his own admission, the Tongan Thor said he was “at peace” with not getting selected against the Lions because of his form woes this year.
Kepu, who was sent off against Scotland in Tupou’s debut Test in 2017, said he felt for his old teammate as he battled form and confidence since rupturing his Achilles in late 2022.
“I keep in touch with him every now and then and congratulated him on his debut for the Waratahs,” Kepu said.
“What people don’t realise is the Achilles rupture is a massive injury, and I’ve been through it.
“To see him and Allan come back from those, especially in our position, is a credit to them.
“I know that it’s a continuous battle to get through that because it’s in your mind all the time. Every time you pack a scrum, you’re worrying about that a little bit. I know I did. I think part of it is that.
“I think he’s shown he can do it and it’s about just getting the right people around him. I think with Nelly, it’s a bit of a free rein. You just let him go out there and enjoy himself and he’ll start to express himself in the ways that we know that he can.
“If he is out there, I’m sure he’ll do the job.”
Sekope Kepu (R) played alongside Taniela Tupou (C) for a couple of years and says the prop remains a “cornerstone” for the Wallabies. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Kepu suffered his own Achilles injury in September 2022.
While Kepu was a decade older than Tupou when he went down in Dublin a couple of months later, the rising coach said it was an injury that left him scarred.
“I don’t know about any other injuries, ACLs and all these other injuries, but because it’s below our calf, it’s a massive part of what we use in the scrums and you’re never the same with it,” he said.
“I pushed myself. It was tough. There were dark days, mate. I said to my wife, ‘cut it off.’
“It was hard because the improvements are very little and sometimes you think, I’m making an improvement and then you go back and test it and it’s still the same or half a calf raise or whatever.
“That killer instinct, your second-guessing a little bit because you just never know … It’s that little voice in your head that you have to battle through.
“I think you can get away with it a little bit in other positions because you’re not having to a thousand tonnes put through your back and against you.”
Taniela Tupou’s form remains a major issue heading into the Lions series. (Photo by Mark Kolbe Photography/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Kepu said that he thought Tupou could have a positive impact if he decided to join Moana Pasifika ahead of the 2026 season, but added he hoped he would stay in Australian rugby.
“He’ll definitely fit right in and he’ll inspire guys if he was to go there, definitely,” Kepu said. “They’ll have to break the bank to get him over there.
“I think he loves Oz and he’s shown that with his decision to move over there from a young age. I hope that he can actually just play like he knows he can and just enjoy himself. I know when he’s happy, he plays well.
“It’d be massive for Moana if he was to go over there, but I think he’s happier in Oz.
“I hope that he hangs around if they can keep him, because I think he’s still young. He’s 29, so he’s got plenty to give. He’s got his best years ahead of him as a tight-head prop.”
