Tupou scores two tries as Wallabies demolish Japan 56-17 in Townsville

Taniela Tupou scored two first-half tries as the Wallabies dismantled Japan 56-17 in Townsville on Saturday, capping a dominant forward display that included tries from four props and a historic front-row milestone.

The 30-year-old tighthead had already crossed in Australia’s 35-32 win over the Brave Blossoms in Osaka a week earlier, and was rewarded with a recall to the starting XV for the first time since November 23. His brace ended a run without consecutive try-scoring appearances stretching back to April 2021, when he was playing for the Queensland Reds.

Josh Nasser opened the scoring before Tupou’s double put the Wallabies firmly in control. Angus Bell, Brandon Paenga-Amosa and debutant Massimo De Lutiis also touched down, meaning Bell, Nasser and Tupou became only the second Wallabies starting front-row trio in history to all score tries in the same Test match.

Stanford Sport commentator and former Wallaby Morgan Turinui had sensed what was coming before kick-off. “I was keeping my eye on him from the warm-up onwards, because even in the warm-up I’d have been scared to defend him,” Turinui said on Between Two Posts. “When they went 15 on 15 in the warm-up, he was just carrying direct — to be a physical presence — and I really saw that. I thought he was great.”

Turinui also highlighted the physical demands of the back-to-back Tests. “Don’t underestimate how hard it is to back up after going to Osaka, coming back on the flight and the week that was,” he said. “I thought [Tupou] was brilliant. Obviously the try-scoring stuff, but I just saw some great energy around the park.”

Openside flanker Carlo Tizzano was another standout, winning three turnovers in his second start of the international season, while Max Jorgensen and Isaac Henry also caught the eye.

Tupou, who has now featured in every Wallabies Test since returning from a season with Racing 92 in France’s Top 14 — his first experience of club rugby outside Australia — spoke candidly about the impact of that move abroad. “I didn’t realise I needed that change to go to France,” the 72-cap prop said after the final whistle.

Turinui credited the environment around Tupou as a key factor in his resurgence. “If you’re in an environment with Taniela Tupou and you can make him care about the environment and make him feel cared for, that’s when I’ve seen it — when I see him fully engaged in a group that he cares about,” he said.