Wallabies legend Matt Burke believes that Taniela Tupou would have faced a stern reprimand from his Waratahs coach, Dan McKellar, following a reckless incident during their match against the Western Force. Early in the second half, Tupou received a 10-minute yellow card for tripping Hamish Stewart, putting his team under pressure at a crucial moment with the score at 17-14 against them. Fortunately for Tupou, the Waratahs did not concede any points during his absence and ultimately secured a 22-17 victory.
Burke anticipated a fiery response from McKellar about the incident, describing it as a “brain explosion” that jeopardised the team. He noted that Tupou’s overall contribution to the game had been minimal, consisting of a few scrums before he was sent off, and questioned the decision-making behind the mishap.
Similarly, former Wallaby Morgan Turinui expressed his astonishment at Tupou’s actions, which he attributed to the player’s desperation to prevent a line break. He described the moment as a “glitch” in Tupou’s performance, stating that while trips can sometimes be strategic, this particular act seemed like an impulsive error under fatigue.
Turinui highlighted the oddity of the situation, noting that Tupou apologised immediately after realising his mistake, but emphasised how unusual it was for a player to behave so blatantly in that manner. Despite the incident, Tupou did not face any disciplinary action.