Wallaby star’s ‘very lively’ Top 14 debut deemed a success except for one painful aspect ‘he will have to adapt’
After seeing out the Autumn Nations Series with the Wallabies, Taniela Tupou, main pic, has now debuted for Patrice Collazo's Racing in France
Saturday’s Top 14 debut by Wallabies tighthead Taniela Tupou was branded a success by Racing 92 coach Patrice Collazo – except for one painful aspect.
The 29-year-old was a November 22 starter for Australia against France at the Stade de France, but there was a five-week wait before he made his Top 14 debut.
The front-rower went on to score two tries in Racing’s 61-16 demolition of struggling Montauban, an impressive return given that he scored just once for the Waratahs in 13 Super Rugby Pacific appearances in 2025.
However, his debut came with the warning of an adjustment that he would need to get used to – the type of pitch that the Parisian club has at the La Défense Arena.
“A player with exceptional qualities…”
Speaking after the so-called Tongan Thor excited home fans with his display as a 46th-minute second-half replacement, Collozo said: “It was his first time playing on artificial turf, he will have to adapt because his back sometimes suffered. But he was very lively. He is a player with exceptional qualities who, like Ben Tameifuna or Uini Atonio, loves and demands the ball.
It’s up to us to put him in the best possible conditions, but we will take it step by step so he can adapt to the demands of the Top 14.”
Tupou’s cameo as a sub against a relegation-threatened team was a gentle introduction for the Australian front-rower to the French league, given that his new club’s next assignment is a trip next Saturday night to the title-challenging Bordeaux.
It was December 16 when Tupou first trained with Racing following a break after a long stint involved with the Wallabies that saw him start nine matches following his return to fitness for the third and final British and Irish Lions Test in August.
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His recruitment was viewed as Racing’s biggest capture for the 2015/26 season, but it wasn’t until last Saturday’s Round 13 fixture that he was available to join in. It was worth the wait.
“He’s got a good profile,” claimed Tupou’s new 92 teammate Hassane Kolingar after his debut. “We know him, he likes to carry the ball, it’s good to have him in the team. And highlighting the front row from time to time is a good thing!”
Brive boss Pierre-Henry Broncan, who assisted Eddie Jones’ Australia in 2023, reckoned: “It was quite a match for him, with that brace boosting his confidence. He can adapt to the Top 14 because he is very solid in the scrum.”
