Dan McKellar issues ‘clear’ demands to Taniela Tupou after dropping Wallabies star to the bench
Waratahs front-row Taniela Tupou and head coach Dan McKellar.
Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar has revealed his reason for dropping Wallabies front-row Taniela Tupou to the bench for Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific clash with Moana Pasifika in Auckland.
Tupou joined the Waratahs from the Melbourne Rebels last year and was the Sydneysiders’ starting tighthead prop in all of their previous six matches during this year’s campaign.
But McKellar has dropped him to the bench after they suffered a heavy 57-12 defeat against the Hurricanes in Wellington last week and is demanding more from the 28-year-old.
Wants improvement from Tupou
“We need to get more out of him and we’ll see if he can bring that in the last 30 minutes this week,” McKellar told AAP on Thursday. “Nella’s got to come off the bench and provide the qualities that we know he’s capable of providing.
“He’s been playing 60 minutes, so we’ve seen that. It’s the quantity and the quality of the work, which I know he’s on board with.”
Tupou has worked on his conditioning which has led to him being more active in his play in the loose, but McKellar hinted that there is still room for improvement in the Wallaby’s scrummaging.
“It’s about being a tighthead prop,” McKellar said. “He knows what I want and I won’t delve into detail around those conversations.
“His set-piece development’s good. He’s in good shape, a strong boy. He’s worked hard, got some feedback after the Brumbies trial, and took that on board and has really got after it.
“His attitude and application has been excellent. He’s as light as he’s been in a long time, and he’s worked incredibly hard and he’s coachable but he’s a little bit frustrated himself.
“So hopefully he can transfer that frustration onto the field on on Saturday afternoon.”
Tupou joined the Waratahs on a short-term contract for this season after the Rebels were axed from Super Rugby Pacific at the end of the 2024 campaign due to financial difficulties.
Wants Tupou to stay at the Waratahs
McKellar revealed that he is keen for the 58-Test Wallaby to extend his stay at the Waratahs.
“He’s a great bloke, great man, (I) always love him,” he said. “The staff love him. He’s a very, very, good rugby player when he gets it right, and we’re working hard with him to ensure that we give him the support and the coaching that he needs to allow him to play at the level that he can play.
“I’ve coached Taniela when he was at his best and and I know that we can get him back there and he knows that as well. That’s the challenge.
“The quality that we’ve got in the front-rowers, sometimes he’ll start, sometimes he’ll come off the bench.
“This week he’s coming off the bench. I can’t be any clearer. We want to get more out of him.”
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