Rugby News: ‘Two Wallabies ahead of him’

Waratahs youngster Mosese Tuipulotu might have said ‘mate, I support gold’ when asked last month about his future international ambitions, but Scotland are ready to give their loyalty a serious test with a large offer.

“It’s always been my dream to play for the Wallabies and wear the gold jersey,” said Tuipulotu, whose older brother Sione was called up by Scotland, qualifying through their grandmother.

Tuipulotu is set to make his Waratahs debut on the bench against the Hurricanes on Friday and faces an intriguing move with reports Scotland are set to tempt him on a $225,000-a-season contract, according to media reports.

He would be on far less than that at the Tahs, but there is a potential path looming in the first team with neither Lalakai Foketi nor Izzy Perese still linked beyond the World Cup.

The Tahs are also likely to make him an improved contract offer for next season, but any money he may receive under the Scotland Qualified scheme will concern them.

Meanwhile, Sione questioned his brother’s adamant statement that the Wallabies were his first and only love.

“I’m not sure that’s so true, to be honest,” Sione said as quoted by The Scotsman.

“I don’t know if they mixed up a few quotes or anything. I talk to my brother quite often and his motivation is that he still has six months left with the Waratahs and he wants to play as much Super Rugby this year as possible.

“He started pre-season well but at the end of the day he has two Wallaby centers ahead of him in Lalakai Foketi and Izaia Perese.

“My brother dances to the beat of his own drum and while I’m here he wants to do his thing so it could be staying in Australia or coming here.

“He holds his cards close to his chest. He’s also a center so maybe Gregor (Townsend) talks to him on the sly. I always say if he should come, send him to Edinburgh because I don’t want him stealing my place in Glasgow!

Tahs plans to manage Ardie

The NSW Waratahs, with good reason, have no intention of shaking Ardie Savea’s cage when the destructive back rower makes his return from suspension in a crucial Super Rugby Pacific encounter in Wellington.

After a lackluster loss to the Rebels in Melbourne, the Waratahs concede starting their campaign with a one-in-four record would let the 2022 quarter-finalists catch up.

Winning in New Zealand has proven pretty elusive for Australian sides in recent years, without having to deal with a stinging Savea returning from the long run after being banned from a game for a slashing gesture towards the United half-back. Rebels Ryan Louwrens.

“Don’t push the bear, I think,” Waratahs lock Ned Hanigan said on Wednesday when asked how best to nullify the All Blacks star at Sky Stadium.

Rebels and Hurricanes face off during the Super Rugby Pacific second round match between Melbourne Rebels and Hurricanes at AAMI Park on March 03, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

“An unreal player. His ball-carrying abilities and his skill at disrupting whatever you want to do with the ball, he’s a returning rower who’s considered world-class for a reason.

Freshly re-signed with the Waratahs until the end of 2024, flanker Charlie Gamble has acknowledged the daunting challenge ahead.

“Ardie is Ardie, he’s probably the best player in the world right now,” Gamble said.

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“It’s about bringing that energy and pace of work to the field.

“If you feel like you’re competing for absolutely everything, then…if he’s a better player, if he carries a lot harder than you, if he makes line breaks, that’s what it is. .

“It’s Ardie Savea. There will be parts of the game where he does exceptional things on the pitch. It’s just a matter of limiting that.

“We will do everything we can to respond to it. It is an exciting challenge.

While Savea has only been watching from the touchline for a week, Hanigan last played for NSW in 2020 and plans to pack his own punch in his long-awaited return game after a three-season stint in Japan .

A knee injury delayed the return of the former Wallabies star and he is now looking forward to getting stuck.

” I can not wait. I was really disappointed that I didn’t get there in the first round,” he said.

“It was something we had been building on over the summer and the goal was to be there.

“I had played parts of both tries and felt really good at the start, but I got cut short so I had to put the right knee.

“Honestly, I can’t even put it into words. It’s going to be awesome.”

The lure of another Rugby World Cup, which kicks off in France in September, also motivates the 27-year-old.

“Anyone in Australian rules football is currently eligible to play, you have to have that in mind because that’s the epitome of the sport,” Hanigan said.

“This is where you want to be. The best against the best.

“But there’s a lot of football to play until then.”

Sign up for key ABs

All Blacks defender David Havili and prop Tyrel 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, has signed up until the end of 2025.

The 28-year-old utility has featured in 22 of the All Blacks’ last 28 Tests and made five of six SR finals.

“Coaching someone who has multiple skills, who can play in so many different positions at a world-class level, is so unique,” said Crusaders coach Scott Robertson, who is one of the leading candidates for the job. to be Havili’s next national team coach.

“He has a skill factor, but also a tenacity factor. He is tough as a coach, tough as a player and tough on himself. He has real courage in him.

“For him to sign until 2025 and be so loyal shows what it means to him to play rugby here in New Zealand. It shows how much we appreciate him and how much he appreciates us.

Lomax, 26, has recommitted to New Zealand rugby until the end of 2026.

The 23 Test tight-headed prop was one of the All Blacks’ best performers in 2022 and is set to be a key member of the World Cup squad later this year.

England vow to avoid further humiliation

The chastened England players have made a pact to ensure there is no repeat of their record 53-10 Six Nations defeat to France, prop Ellis Genge has claimed.

With regular skipper Owen Farrell on the bench, Genge captained England at Twickenham against France in what was their third-heaviest defeat ever, and their biggest at home.

“We had a review,” Genge told Sky Sports. “It clearly wasn’t good enough, but I don’t think anyone had any illusions that it was.

“We had honest conversations about why this happened. We have clarified this and made a pact so that it does not happen again.

England are fourth in the Six Nations standings after two wins and two losses.

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They travel to Dublin on Saturday for the final game of the Championship to take on leaders Ireland, who are chasing a grand slam.

“I don’t know what the outcome will be on Saturday, but as long as we fight and support each other, that’s what we’ll be looking for,” Genge said.

“They are a bright, brilliant team and deserve to be number one.

“Everything is against us, but we are excited. We have to fix things, but the pressure is probably more on them.