Bristol Bears’ headline signing ahead of the 2022/23 season, star loosehead prop Ellis Genge, has been at the centre of the pre-match war of words this week ahead of England’s must win second Test against the Wallabies.
England were beaten 30-28 in the opening game of the series despite playing more than half the game with an additional player after lock Darcy Swain was red carded for a head butt, meaning the series is up for grabs at the Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
The Wallabies will be bolstered by the return of Taniela Tupou, dubbed the ‘Tongan Thor’, and the bulldozing 21 stones 4lbs tighthead prop has his eyes firmly on ‘smashing’ one of England’s emotional leaders and dynamic frontrow ball carrier Genge, who himself has coined the nickname ‘The Baby Rhino.’
The two giant men will go directly head-to-head in the scrum while looking to punch holes in the open field with their powerful running.
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Tupou said: “Ellis Genge is going to come out there and try to give it to me and smash me. I will do exactly the same thing. I want to give it to him. We will see what happens out there.
“I have heard a lot of talk about him. I saw him absolutely kill it in the English comp with his team and he has captained his side.
“As a loosehead, he can run the ball, he can tackle and he can scrum. This week if he is starting, it will be the first time I have played him. It will be a big challenge but I need to focus on myself and what I can do.”
In response, England forwards coach Richard Cockerill has called for particularly his pack to be ‘gladiatorial’ in their mindset this weekend, and meet the physical challenge laid down by the home side.
He said: “We want it to be gladiatorial. We want it to be physical. That first clash is going to be great. Let’s go and see it. That’s what the game is all about.
“Let’s enjoy the physical parts, the feisty parts and – within the laws of the game – let’s get into it.”
Discussing the contest between Genge, who left the UK as the captain of the Gallagher Premiership champions Leicester Tigers but will return to pre-season with his hometown club Bristol Bears, and Tupou, Cockerill said: “Tupou has not played for a little while [due to a calf injury] so he’d better turn up and perform if he is going to start challenging Ellis before the game.
“When Genge gets the ball, they are going to want to whack him. When Tupou gets the ball, we are going to want to whack him.
“Tupou is exceptionally explosive with ball in hand. It should be a good set-piece battle between him and Ellis. It all sets it up for a nice, tasty evening.
“Ellis will get on with his game. We know those battles are going to be crucial. The physical battles up front are always crucial. We look forward to it. Bring it on.”
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