The Springboks are set to face a depleted Australian front row in the Rugby Championship opener, with star tighthead prop Taniela Tupou in serious doubt for the Ellis Park Test.

Already without the services of regular starter Allan Alaalatoa, the Wallabies’ tighthead depth has taken another blow, with reports out of Australia confirming that Tupou suffered a toe injury during his barnstorming performance against the British & Irish Lions in Sydney last Saturday.

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According to The Roar, Tupou is expected to be named in Joe Schmidt’s Rugby Championship squad on Thursday, but he’s highly unlikely to recover in time for the first Test against the Springboks in Johannesburg on 16 August.

It’s a significant setback for the Wallabies, who will now be without their two most experienced tighthead props heading into a clash against the most feared pack in world rugby. With youngster Massimo De Lutiis still a month away from returning, Schmidt may have to throw Tom Robertson or Zane Nonggorr into the furnace against the Springbok front row.

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Before the injury, Tupou had torn into the Lions, winning multiple scrum penalties and giving Australia early dominance in the wet-weather arm-wrestle at the SCG. His return to Test rugby after a frustrating season was both emotional and effective, and he made it clear he still has ambitions to represent the Wallabies, despite signing with Racing 92.

“I always make myself available for the Wallabies, whether I’m in France or wherever I am,” Tupou said.

“If they need me, I’ll 100% put my hand up.”

Alaalatoa, meanwhile, confirmed that he is still in rehab and targeting a return later in the Championship.

“I’m hoping to be back at some stage throughout The Rugby Championship,” he said at a Brumbies awards ceremony.

“I’ll be back at Brums now rehabbing and spending a bit of time with the family.”

With the Boks boasting the likes of Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Wilco Louw, Thomas Du Toit and newcomers Boan Venter and Marnus van der Merwe in their front-row stocks, Australia’s weakening scrum could be the Springboks’ first real opportunity to assert dominance in their title defence.

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