'It's the hardest he’s ever worked': Hatley excited to unleash world class Tupou, Alaalatoa

New scrum coach Neal Hatley believes the Wallabies have the necessary depth to match it with the best, headlined by returning prop Taniela Tupou.

Tupou hasn't played a minute of Rugby in 2023 after rupturing his Achilles tendon against Ireland in November.

New scrum coach Neal Hatley believes the Wallabies have the necessary depth to match it with the best, headlined by returning prop Taniela Tupou.

The tight-head will return to full training in the coming weeks, eyeing a return during the Rugby Championship.

The 27-year-old is a unicorn at his best; a 130kg+ prop whose explosiveness defies his size and the skills to fit in any backline.

Tupou spoke about not reaching his potential in the Wallabies jersey in May and Hatley believes the signs are there that the prop will be at his barnstorming best for the International season.

“People that know him say it’s the hardest he’s ever worked. I couldn’t be more pleased with him at the moment,” Hatley told reporters.

“On his day, he’s as good as anyone in the world, not just carrying the ball but actually what he does at set piece. He’s a mountain of a man…Taniela needs to keep pushing to get him to where we need to get him to but he’s right on track.

“We’re really pleased where he’s is…he’s the bloke that’s grabbing us (for extra work), his weight has dropped. He’s into ‘Clarkey’ (Jon Clarke) our S & C and myself every day asking for a little bit more so I think his application and attitude has been outstanding.”

The Wallabies have significant depth at tight-head prop, with the likes of Sam Talakai, Pone Fa'amausuili and Zane Nonggorr joining the Wallabies in camp ahead of Eddie Jones' squad announcement on Sunday.

Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa will also have a major role to play, with players selected from Stephen Larkham's side set to join the camp next week when the squad officially convenes.

Hatley had little concern about the fitness of Alaalatoa, revealing the prop would've played if the Brumbies made the Super Rugby Pacific final.

“He’s an unbelievably diligent person,” he remarked. “He’s been working his backside off. We get the videos of him, he’s been scrummaging, running, accelerating, decelerating so Al’s well on course.

“I expect when he comes in next week that he’ll be firing into everywhere.”

Hatley understands the battle the Wallabies will face when it comes to scrum-time, starting with the Springboks.

The Springboks' 2019 World Cup triumph was built off the back of their 'Bomb Squad' and set-piece game.

With that comes a natural perception of dominance before a whistle has been blown, with Hatley eager to change that.

“South Africa, a good scrummage, everyone thinks with their bomb squad that they’re the best scrum in the world so the perception is massively important,” Hatley said.

“…Perception is going to be really important, that’s why we’re going to be as clean as we can but still be aggressive and getting after everything. 

“We don’t need any angels, so we need to be attacking every set-piece that we can.”