Dan McKellar is demanding more from Taniela Tupou, revealing even the powerhouse prop is feeling frustrated at his form so far this Super Rugby Pacific season.
McKellar has relegated Tupou to the bench for Saturday's pivotal clash with Moana Pasifika in Auckland, with the no-nonsense coach looking for quality over quantity from Australia's most destructive front-rower.
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"We need to get more out of him and we'll see if he can bring that in the last 30 minutes this week," McKellar said on Thursday.
"Nella's got to come off the bench and provide the qualities that we know he's capable of providing.
"He's been playing 60 minutes, so we've seen that. It's the quantity and the quality of the work, which I know he's on board with."
Happy with Tupou's play in the loose and chuffed with his improved conditioning, McKellar hinted that he'd been disappointed with the 148kg prop's scrummaging.
"It's about being a tighthead prop," McKellar said.
"He knows what I want and I won't delve into detail around those conversations.
"His set-piece development's good. He's in good shape, a strong boy. He's worked hard, got some feedback after the Brumbies trial, and took that on board and has really got after it.
"His attitude and application has been excellent. He's as light as he's been in a long time, and he's worked incredibly hard and he's coachable but he's a little bit frustrated himself.
"So hopefully he can transfer that frustration onto the field on on Saturday afternoon."
After joining the Waratahs on a one-season deal following the demise of the Melbourne Rebels, Tupou is off contract at year's end.
McKellar, though, made it clear he wants the million-dollar-a-year, 58-Test stalwart to remain in Sydney.
"He's a great bloke, great man, (I) always love him," the former Brumbies mentor and Wallabies assistant said.
"The staff love him. He's a very, very, good rugby player when he gets it right, and we're working hard with him to ensure that we give him the support and the coaching that he needs to allow him to play at the level that he can play.
"I've coached Taniela when he was at his best and and I know that we can get him back there and he knows that as well. That's the challenge.
"The quality that we've got in the front-rowers, sometimes he'll start, sometimes he'll come off the bench.
"This week he's coming off the bench. I can't be any clearer. We want to get more out of him."
Dan Botha will start in place of Tupou in an all-Sydney University front row with Angus Bell and hooker Ethan Dobbins.
"Dan deserves an opportunity and has earned that," McKellar said after making seven changes to the side trounced 57-12 by the Hurricanes last start in Wellington.
One-time Wallaby playmaker Tane Edmed has also been dropped, out of the 23-man squad altogether, in a message to his fifth-placed Tahs that no player's position is guaranteed.
"Monday was a pretty tough day to be honest. We reviewed that one, like we review all games, but it was really honest and I think it was a good thing for us," McKellar said.
"It's a reality of where we're at as a group and we couldn't miss the opportunity to tidy a few things up both on and off the field.
"And the players have been excellent ever since."
